RIP Dan Wheldon - Crash footage/analysis

But crashing is what the spectators want in this sport. Note the commentator's immortal use of the phrase "here we go" as the crash got going, as if to say "this is what we all came to see".

comment by Ronaldo McDonaldo 2 (U8472)

Dont be an idiot.

The commentators were discussing what the drivers had said about the field being to big and cars able to run 4 wide which doesnt happen often.

You obviously dont have a clue so dont bother postering

I understand were Ronald is coming from but thats just the American way, its all apart of the show/package or lets be honest they wouldn't be racing round in a death bowl in the first place. Athough having said that it just goes to show the skill of the drivers involved in this type of motorsport, that this type of tradegy doesn't happen every week. It seems bonkers that such a slight touch/contact can cause havoc on such a grand scale and end someones life. If I were a competitor in this competion i'd want out it seems crazy

I've seen the footage of the accident and have to admit I found the American commentators actually quite respectful. They said to the viewers before they replayed the crash to look away if they so wished, obviously this was before they learnt of Wheldon. I do feel that if this kind of incident had happened in F1 the cameras would never replay the incident due to the obvious possibility of fatalites. I felt overall thought they dealt with the whole situation rather well. Thoughts are with his family.

comment by PaxtonSageNOnion- 2 spooks and a ghoul (U10387)

2 corners before they were onboard with Wheldon, talking about the dangers of getting 3 and 4 wide round Las Vegas, they even said he's in a good position here.... it wasn't until about 5 mins after the crash they realsied it was Wheldons car that was the most damaged.

The most shocking accident i've ever seen

Yes I remember that, if they had stayed onboard for the next few mins we would of been seeing the last few moments of Wheldons life as from his own eyes. That would of been truely horrific. They were also commenting that the drivers had already complained about the dangers of having so many cars in the race before race time and the issue of "dirty air" caused by the amount of traffic on the track.

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

If this tragedy has done anything for this sport it is to prove that Nascar banked oval tracks are no good for Indy.

The Indy board has now decided not to return to that track in future. It is the fact that it is banked which causes the problem, we have Indy car in Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest track in the world, but it is flat.

I recently returned from Manchester sitting next to Alex Lloyds grandfather who was going to watch him race. I know that Alex was involved in the crash and for his grandfathers sake I am glad he is OK.

R.I.P. Dan Wheldon

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

With the way physics works, a 50mph drop in speed (about 20% slower) would result in roughly a 40% reduction in kinetic energy that the cars have. That's a huge amount, it'd mean any crash was safer and brakes would be far more effective. Plus the lower speeds would increase the ability of drivers to react.


As an aside, the kinetic energy of the car crash that killed Wheldon is less than the food energy inside a large bag of Doritos. Weird eh?