The NASCAR Thread

[Mike DC]

       
Update on Ryan Newman: a doc says his condition is "serious but not life-threatening."  Keep the fingers crossed. 

That was a damn scary wreck.  Hit the wall hard & spun around, then get overturned & T-boned in the driver's window (!), and end up with the window opening against the pavement and the car on fire.  Back in the muscle era that might have killed him 2-3 times over.     

[JB400]

He's very blessed to still be alive.  That was a very hard lick.  Hopefully, the next gen car will take this accident into account. 

[73chgrSE]

Back when Ryan Newman drove a Dodge he was on the pole about every other week. The Rocket Man!  I really hope he makes a full recovery. I remember when he was a rookie driver. Hope he can race again.

[Chargen69]

He's very blessed to still be alive.  That was a very hard lick.  Hopefully, the next gen car will take this accident into account. 

not sure how you could build a car to handle hitting the drivers side of the car at 190mph without transferring that energy to the driver

[Mike DC]

       
He didn't get hit in the left-side door.  He got hit in the left-side window.

[Chargen69]

       
He didn't get hit in the left-side door.  He got hit in the left-side window.

did I say left side door?? NO I said drivers side of the car, how is that that much different than left side window??

[RallyeMike]

It appeared to me the hit was angled across the window opening and roof, which is why it was so scary. There are only a few bars up there compared to the door area.
I'm not sure there is a worse angle too be hit! The facts that he survived is a real testament to the safety focus of the last decade or so... and they will probably learn even more from studying the remains of the #6 car.

As with everyone, hoping he has a speedy and full recovery.

[Chargen69]

when I said "hitting the drivers side of the car" what I was talking about is that slam up against the wall.  if you go back and watch it, more of the nose hit first, but that body slam sideways into the wall is what I don t think they can really do anything to soften the drivers on

[Mike DC]

          

did I say left side door?? NO I said drivers side of the car, how is that that much different than left side window??

You're right, I misread your comment.  Sorry.

It appeared to me the hit was angled across the window opening and roof, which is why it was so scary. There are only a few bars up there compared to the door area.
I'm not sure there is a worse angle too be hit! The facts that he survived is a real testament to the safety focus of the last decade or so... and they will probably learn even more from studying the remains of the #6 car.

Yeah, he found a perfectly bad way to get hit.  There may not be a worse place/angle on the whole car.  

There isn't much else to do with wrecks like that, that's the problem.  IMO it wouldn't hurt to double-up some of the tubing around that area though.   Or just add raw thickness to the existing tubes.

[Mike DC]

 
Another update:  Newman is awake and talking. 

[Chargen69]

maybe they can add a cushion of air around the entire driver...  to go along with that automatic transmission they are kicking around

[odcics2]

Iron man Newman walked out of the hospital!!

[6bblgt]

 

[Aero426]

Unreal.

[RallyeMike]

Whew! I'm sure many people are SO relieved.

[JB400]

Ross Chastain to fill in for Newman

https://m.nascar.com/news-media/2020/02/19/ross-chastain-ryan-newman-las-vegas-fill-in-no-6-car/

[73chgrSE]

I am amazed and very happy he is OK!

[odcics2]

WTF ??

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-center-locking-wheels-nut/4711047/

[Aero426]

WTF ??

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-center-locking-wheels-nut/4711047/

Yup.    Just another nail in the coffin for the old fans.      I'll stick to my boring steel five on five off.   

[RallyeMike]

"One of our main goals with the Next Gen car is to provide a vehicle that better replicates what our OEM partners sell in the showroom – both in looks and relevant technology..... ," said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation John Probst.

I guess I'm out of touch not having bought a new car for awhile. They all come with single lug wheels now? 

[JB400]

I wonder how long this will last.  I see a lot of broken wheels in wrecks compared to bent wheels, and teams will be stripping out hubs instead of lugs.  Strip a hub, and they're done.

[Chargen69]

leave it loose and their done too

[DownZero]

The end started with restrictor plates. All down hill since then.

[odcics2]

First plate race was in August, 1970.

[DownZero]

 yea, but only on the 7litre engines. All the others were exempt.