All-purpose open-wheel (F1, IRL) racing thread

34 cars + crazy fast track at Vegas = REALLY bad idea. Potentially tragic, in fact....

 

Jesus - wasn't watching the race, saw your post, and just saw the wreckage on the track. Whatever that was, it must have been a terrible wreck.

 

At least 12 cars involved, ABC/ESPN reporting two drivers injured, including Dan Wheldon, who was running for the bonus. At least four cars, including Wheldon and Power, went airborne in the crash. Paul Tracy says a long recovery for Wheldon. Calls it "a bad situation."

 

ABC says Wheldon's car went into the catch fence. Power's didn't, but landed on its right side and came back down on all four wheels. He's been released from the track hospital.

Franchitti says the track wasn't right for open-wheel from the first test, because there was nowhere to get away.

We've seen several in-car views, but not Wheldon's.

 

This is insane.
Power completely launched.
I hope Wheldon (and everyone) is OK. They're not saying a whole lot about Wheldon, and his car is covered.

 

It was nasty. Power & Wheldon both got airborne, Wheldon got into the catch fence. WAY too many cars, too much dicing too early. Ugly. Just ugly. Pretty sure the chopper is warming up for Wheldon.

 

Medical helicopter headed to a Las Vegas hospital, patient unknown.

 

I don't think Side By Side was invented so we could watch a medical copter take off.

 

I've never know the yellow tarp to be a good sign. Take it the f*ck off the screen, ABC.....

 

From Page 94 of the IRL Rule Book:

(5) The starting fields for each Race shall be a
maximum of 28 Cars (which includes 2 provisionals),
except as follows:

(a) Brazil – 26 Cars (which includes 2
provisionals)

(b) Indianapolis 500 Mile Race – 33 Cars (no
provisionals)

(c) Toronto – 27 Cars (which includes 2
provisionals)

(d) Mid Ohio – 27 Cars (which includes 2
provisionals)

(e) Motegi – 26 Cars (which includes 2
provisionals)

(f) Baltimore – 26 Cars (which includes 2
provisionals)

----

So why 34 cars here? Obviously, it wasn't one of the last six cars that started it (looked like around 10th place), but it gave six more a chance to get involved, including Wheldon, who started at the back of the field.

 

CT, right from the green flag, it was ludicrous. 50 pounds of crap, in a 20 pound sack. Yeah, it's the grand finale.....big celebration of the season.....blah, blah. This....was...DUMB. Lot of the youngsters looked WAY over their heads, as well.

 

A friend emailed and said the crash had shades of Earnhardt at Daytona. I'll pass on seeing the replay.

And I hope they do the decent thing and cancel the damn race if there's a fatality. Unlike CART.