Dan Wheldon, Indy 500 winner, killed in 15 car crash

[OleMissCub]

Never seen a wreck that nasty in a car race

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcAZ7I_lk7M#

[shnsajax]

I'm not a racing fan at all. Seeing or hearing this just makes my stomach turn. Horrible way to die. RIP.

[Soul]

I've never seen a crash with that much violence, just cars bursting into flames and flying through the air. What a horrible thing to happen. RIP.

[Derwood]

Snuff Film #287 that I'm not watching

[OleMissCub]

Snuff Film #287 that I'm not watching

 

It's a racing car wreck. A very violent one but it's not like there are body parts flying around or anything.

[tfarks]

My favorite driver. The last 500 I went to was a blast. RIP.

[Derwood]

Snuff Film #287 that I'm not watching

 

It's a racing car wreck. A very violent one but it's not like there are body parts flying around or anything.

 

Doesn't matter, I won't watch videos where I know people died in the video.

[shnsajax]

Snuff Film #287 that I'm not watching

 

It's a racing car wreck. A very violent one but it's not like there are body parts flying around or anything.

 

Doesn't matter, I won't watch videos where I know people died in the video.

 

I understand. Saw a picture of him this year with the Indy 500 trophy and 2 year old son kissing the brickyard finish line. Depressing as hell. I havent watched the video and will try to avoid it too.

[17 Seconds]

i can't believe this guy i've never heard of died

[imb]

theo bless his family

[Sammy Sofa]

theo bless his family

 

That's the saddest part; he never got to the see the Cubs under Theo.

[jersey cubs fan]

I actually put on this race for a second while surfing the early games and it was apparently shortly after they airlifted Wheldon to the hospital. That's a damn shame.

 

 

Is Elway going to get his teeth back?

[RynoRules]

I wonder whether that sport is just too dangerous. I know its not going anywhere becauase of $$$$, but racing around a narrow track at 220 mph in an open-cockpit vehicle without anyone around you would be pretty dangerous. Add a couple of dozen other cars and it becomes pretty close to inevitable that something like this would happen, no?

[erik316wttn]

At least he went out in a blaze of glory.

[tfarks]

I wonder whether that sport is just too dangerous. I know its not going anywhere becauase of $$$$, but racing around a narrow track at 220 mph in an open-cockpit vehicle without anyone around you would be pretty dangerous. Add a couple of dozen other cars and it becomes pretty close to inevitable that something like this would happen, no?

 

There's a million factors at play. Crashing at 220 mph in an open cockpit is safer than crashing at 65 mph while driving to work. But that track was conducive to bunching up a lot of cars and while the catch nets help fans out they don't do any favors to the drivers when they tear apart any car that reaches them. Several years ago a similar death occurred, don't remember who. When things decide to get bad they can get really bad.

[tfarks]

At least he went out in a blaze of glory.

 

Not as cool as heart disease from morbid obesity though

[erik316wttn]

At least he went out in a blaze of glory.

 

Not as cool as heart disease from morbid obesity though

 

Was it too soon?

[jersey cubs fan]

No, it'll probably take another decade.

[erik316wttn]

No, it'll probably take another decade.

 

Awesome!

[RynoRules]

I wonder whether that sport is just too dangerous. I know its not going anywhere becauase of $$$$, but racing around a narrow track at 220 mph in an open-cockpit vehicle without anyone around you would be pretty dangerous. Add a couple of dozen other cars and it becomes pretty close to inevitable that something like this would happen, no?

 

There's a million factors at play. Crashing at 220 mph in an open cockpit is safer than crashing at 65 mph while driving to work. But that track was conducive to bunching up a lot of cars and while the catch nets help fans out they don't do any favors to the drivers when they tear apart any car that reaches them. Several years ago a similar death occurred, don't remember who. When things decide to get bad they can get really bad.

 

 

Not saying you are wrong, but can you explain to me how?

[jersey cubs fan]

Not saying you are wrong, but can you explain to me how?

 

A seat belt on a generic sedan probably isn't nearly as supportive as all the stuff that ties you down into the cockpit with a helmet on.

[Schwarber Fan]

Yeah but I like that my chances of flipping over another car and smashing through the air into a wall are just a little less.

[tfarks]

I wonder whether that sport is just too dangerous. I know its not going anywhere becauase of $$$$, but racing around a narrow track at 220 mph in an open-cockpit vehicle without anyone around you would be pretty dangerous. Add a couple of dozen other cars and it becomes pretty close to inevitable that something like this would happen, no?

 

There's a million factors at play. Crashing at 220 mph in an open cockpit is safer than crashing at 65 mph while driving to work. But that track was conducive to bunching up a lot of cars and while the catch nets help fans out they don't do any favors to the drivers when they tear apart any car that reaches them. Several years ago a similar death occurred, don't remember who. When things decide to get bad they can get really bad.

 

 

Not saying you are wrong, but can you explain to me how?

 

I wish I could find some statistics for you. But the safety features implemented for the drivers are impressive, fire retardant suits, neck braces, carbon fiber shells, the introduction of steel and foam energy reduction walls help reduce the risk caused by banked turns, etc.

 

Normal car wrecks cause a lot more injuries on average, just think of people you might know who don't even wear a seatbelt. Tragically, the new Dallara cars being introduced next year have bars over the tires to prevent cars from going airborne. Wheldon was testing these cars himself, a shame they came a year too late.

[shnsajax]

Just started reading the letter Wheldon's wife left him and quit half way through. Reminded me of the ESPN Outside the Line where the fire fighter was killed and they the audio he left for his wive.