Another bad ESPN.com headline

[Mantle2600]

NHRA's Kalitta dies in Funny Car crash

I guess that was the name of his car.

[SirFozzie]

That's the type of car.

"Funny Car" Is a NHRA class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funny_Car

[fantom1979]

I am really surprised that they dont have sand or some other way to slow down a car at the end of the track

[Ragone]

The fact of the matter is he was probably unconcious and unable to slow the vehicle himself so it would have plowed through sand if it had been there.

This leads me to wonder for a sport that was kinda on the fringe as is.. Will this kill the sport? I mean looking at the string of near fatal injuries in the past 2-4 years including another fatality the year prior.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Ragone

This leads me to wonder for a sport that was kinda on the fringe as is.. Will this kill the sport? I mean looking at the string of near fatal injuries in the past 2-4 years including another fatality the year prior.

Why would this particular crash be the breaking point?

[Ragone]

I watched the drag racing quals last night.. Hell it honestly looked like none of the other drivers even wanted to continue, and all the other safety upgrades they have done in the past year since the last fatality.

[Logan]

Wow, the accident took place about 10 minutes from where I grew up. Sucks.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Ragone

I watched the drag racing quals last night.. Hell it honestly looked like none of the other drivers even wanted to continue, and all the other safety upgrades they have done in the past year since the last fatality.

The fact that they kept going is astounding. I mean, I know it happens in this sport, but...man.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I read it the same as you... figured at some point they would have changed it to Funny Car Driver Killed in Crash.

As it is, I'm hearing the Benny Hill music playing in my head.

edit: Holy shit... just watched the video...

[Flasch186]

here we are....

anyone know how that happens to the engine/car? Are there some precautions?

[CU Tiger]

There are numerous possibilities and given the second explosion we will probably never know.

A tire can explode and throw rubber through a fuel tank. The bordy torque can rip braided stainless steel fuel lines in half and spark an alcohol induced explosion. Or a motor turning 20,000 rpms could simply come apart.

What went terribly wrong was it burned up the shutes, leaving him no way to stop....


That track has been criticized by drivers before for being too short. Many of the old tracks were built when top speeds were 150-200mph it takes a lot longer to slow from 300mph than for 200mph.....

oddly enough that wall was added in the last 5 years to keep drivers from going into a pond about 50 yards beyond it.

[fantom1979]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

oddly enough that wall was added in the last 5 years to keep drivers from going into a pond about 50 yards beyond it.

Not that it probably would have mattered that much, but did someone really think it is a better idea to hit a wall at 200 MPH then go swimming in the water? I would think you would have a better chance to survive in the water rather than hitting the wall.

[Toddzilla]

OMG~! Did you (see/hear/read) about that (person/animal) who died while (performing/participating in a sport)? That's just horrible. (Said sport) needs to be banned!