Speed, at what cost?

As I write this I find myself heartbroken and saddened at the loss of Dan Wheldon. Such a horrible loss for his wife and children, parents and for all racing fans around the world. In time when clearer thoughts return and the emotions of today are pushed aside I hope I will once again find joy in the sport I have followed for nearly 40 years. Maybe today isn't the right time for me to question motorsports, but I think I will push on and ask a few questions about the sport and eagerly wait to hear from my friends here at Racers Reunion.Looking at the state of mind of many of the drivers, teams and announcers before todays race in regards to the speed at Las Vegas, it seemed that nearly all were worried about the speed and the potential for disaster. Most felt the speeds was much to high and they ask how bad would it be. We found out on lap 12. Today it was at a Indy Car race that another loss has shaken us and left many of us questioning our sport. That being said, we all know racing is a dangerous sport. But is there any reason why we should just say that this is just part of racing. Is it necessary to see cars dive into a corner at 220+ MPH and hope and pray that all comes out well.Over the years we have lost friends and hero's, many due to the lack of good judgement. The safety rules today were all writen in the blood of those that that showed where the flaws were in the sport. Why does it take horrible examples to open the eyes of those that make the rules? I know it's not that simple, but today we lost a great talent and it seemed that everyone felt the potential was there before the race started. We all know the potential is there, in any division, and yet we still accept it as just part of the sport. I am very grateful that the frequency that we witness these disasters is much less than in earlier years, but there is much room for improvement. Let's all pray that sometime very soon we will witness the perfect balance of speed, competition and entertainment with safety, common sence and good judgement. Godspeed Dan Wheldon.
updated by @bumpertag: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Racing is a dangerous sport. PERIOD. Always had been and always will be. That is a frustrating fact and I think it should never be taken for granted. But we can always rest assure that advances in safety have been made over the years. After Earnhardt's wreck alot of safety measures were put into place. Just ask Jimmie Johnson after last night or Michael McDowell after that wreck at Texas. I mean NASCAR has done enough. The question is, has IRL done enough??

I am sure IRL will consider some changes in safety after this. I do not think they are doing enough. HANs devices, taller fences and safety barriers can only do so much. But something needs to be done to make the cars safer. You are putting very fast light cars on really large tracks. The slightest margin of error can be disastrous. As a fan i want to see drivers and fans safe when i am at a race. I think that is what everyone wants.

i agree whole heartedly with Christophers comments, but I want to take it one step further. One important piece of safety equipment is what's between a drivers ears. You will never win a race on the first, tenth, fifteenth or even half way lap and to race like it does causes mistakes. Drivers need to think not just what is going on around them, but what can happen behind them if they decide to race too hard from the get-go. Usually the serious injuries or worse happens behind or along side the initial contact. I didn't see the race, but I'd guess Weldon and others came up into it with no time to react.

There is no safe speed and racers will not slow down because of safety concerns. The mindset is go fast and outrun the competition, thats what makes us fans. The daring drivers laying all on the line to prove that he and his team are the best at any given track. My heart brakes for the Wheldon family but as a race fan I will continue to support motorsports. I do enjoy the spectical of auto racing and I hope that my love of the sport continues till I'm no longer here.

PK I agree with you. The perfect balance is a moving target that can never be achieved no matter what steps are taken. I was really touched yesterday and drivenby the rage to say something, anything. Hindsight is very clear, but it seemed that too many had concerns before the race started and that is where my rage came from. But what could they do, the race was scheduled and the teams showed to race. I feel that A.J. Allmendinger is correct when he said the Indy cars do not need to be on mile and a half ovals, but on a few smaller ovals but mostly on road courses. Indianapolis is part of the history of open wheel racing and no way that will stop, but the other oval should be reconcidered.

I'm sure there will be lessons learned from the tragedy and improvements will be put in place, that is the way sanctioning bodies handle things like this. Fans will move on and hold many fond memories of a great talent, and a greater young man, husband and father that left us much too soon. I will, but inside I'm screaming at the loss of another racer. I can't label this as some freakist accident.

AS an Owner, driver, promoter and fan I hear the pain we all feel. NASCAR put on a retrictor plate to slow down the cars on big tracks which helps the speed but they have fenders as we all know. Indy cars on a high banked oval was tried MANY years ago with bad results. The indy car of today is better on the flatter tracks with out the ability to flat foot around the place. If they do anything I see them LEAVING the high banks to the fender cars and going to road courses, flatter ovals and who knows maybe two races at indy, one on the oval and one on the road course.

Racing will NEVER be safe, I got hurt worse as an offcial than I ever did as a driver.

As long as steps are taken it is not a wasted life BUT if NOTHING is tried then it is.

George Pavlisko

I haven't watched as much Indy racing as I used to several years ago. But the last one I watched was at Texas (I think). I couldn't believe the speed on that track. I too am one who thinks these 1 1/2 mile tracks are not suited for those cars. Yes, its fast and exciting...now we see how deadly it can be. And it was just a matter of time til it happened. Things happen quickly in a race car at most any race speed...but on those 1 1/2 tracks at speeds well over 200 mph going into the corners....with cars so tightly bunched...wow!

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Founder/Creator - RacersReunion®

Seems ironic that Dan Wheldon had spent so much time working out the bugs of the new "Safer" Indycar for 2012.

I will be brief and opinionated. I channel surfed to the Vegas event while watching NFL. I immediately had that sinking feeling when I realized the event was red flagged and saw the puddles of sta-dri. Over and over promoters and sanctioning bodies have attempted to run open wheel cars on banked ovals designed primarily for stock car racing. Far too many of these attempts over the years at venues such as Darlington, Daytona, Atlanta, Charlotte, Texas, and now Las Vegashave resulted in the death and maiming of an exhorbitantly disproportionatly high number of drivers AND spectators, such as the last open wheel race at CMS. For God's sake, enough is enough. Why in the name of sanity would Bruton Smith continue to stage these races at Las Vegas and Texas after the deaths of spectators at Charlotte? I love a good open wheel race - but not on abanked superspeedway designed for stock cars. Let's stop the madness now.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

As I read this reply I swear your avitar smiled and winked!

Official cause of death per ABC News at 6:35 pm = "Blunt Force Trauma."


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Some random thoughts regarding this racing speed issue.

The view from a tall ladder is spectacular. The taller, the better.

What racers and competitors are constantly in search of is a taller ladder !

There are those among us that are driven to climb ladders. A certain combination of talent, coordination, desire and testosterone are found in those that venture out onto competitive motor sports ladders.

It is knowing the inherent danger that attracts those folks, knowing that others are not willing to climb. It is an inner drive that is not explainable. It almost seems irreverent to say that we should shorten the ladder just to appease those that are afraid of heights!

These are not stupid people. They know that the others around them are mostly capable of being there, and they are all traveling in the same direction with equipment that has been developed to the extent of current capabilities.

Many times, I have heard Richard , Dale and others say they felt much safer in the race cars than on the highway traveling to and from the race track. If you want to fully understand the inner peace associated with a drivers desires, look at the countenance on Dales face as he is strapping on his helmet just prior to a race, any race. If you are unable to understand that from just looking, no amount of explanation will suffice.

Tony Canaan expressed it well when he stated that as tragic as Dan's death was, there is not one driver here today that would not be content with leaving 'this way'. Doing what they loved best. Drivers close friends and family understand this as well.

Death is no ones friend! But as with other life instances, you deal with it the best you can. I entered stock car racing right after my wife and daughters were killed in a highway accident by a drunk truck driver. I still have to deal with that occasionally, and as difficult as it was at the time to deal with those friends of mine that lost there lives in racing, I am consoled by the knowledge that they were doing what they really wanted to do at the time they left. I cannot say the same thing for the loss of my family.

Random thoughts at this juncture in time in the racing world.

Fear not, the end is just the beginning!

Thank you Will. In these few thoughts you've given me a clearer understanding of those that climb motorsports ladders. Very well put. I'm sorry for youe loss.