Sad day in Indy Car!
- Thread starter jr37
- Start date
This is the 3rd person I have seen die in these cars ( Greg Moore - Scott Braydon) and it is just sad . I know most dont agree but they have to doo something about the speeds of these cars or just not race these high speed tracks . is 150 or 160 mph not fast enough ? Maybe I am just old now
mrsrunningbear
Active member
So sad, so young, so talented, never forgotten, RIP Dan...
I was Dans Chief Mechanic for the 2009 & 2010 seasons. We didn't start out on the best of terms but as time went on we developed a good friendship and became good team mates. Today is a very difficult day. We all know that this could happen any lap but we ignore the danger and do our jobs. Doesn't help when irt becomes reality. JR Hildebrand is my current driver, he is in the hospital tonight as a precaution and is scheduled to be released in the morning. He took quite a hit to the head. As far as the speeds, yes it's fast but we have also had drivers die with much slower speeds. Getting into the catch fence is the worst thing for an Indycar and with them being open wheel cars it is something that will always be a problem. I know most of you are not open wheel fans but thank you for posting your condolences. It means alot. Dan Miller
Dan - I've read that the new chassis for next year is designed to prevent the cars from getting airborne by launching over other cars. Do you know much about that?
What a tough day for the sport and more importantly the families involved. I live in the Indy area and it's all that's been on the news.
What a tough day for the sport and more importantly the families involved. I live in the Indy area and it's all that's been on the news.
windingtrailgal
Active member
Dan, thanks for the post. Sorry for your loss and for the whole racing community. That 5 lapper with the 77 lit up was heartbreaking. Sad to see the pics of him with his wife and 2 little sons. Hope Hildebrand is OK.
I don't think the 2012 car isn't going to be any better in a crash like this. As fast as we were running there wasn't anytime to slow down at all and that is why so many cars got airborne. If you see a picture of Will Power in the air you can see where he drove over the sidepod of Charlie Kimballs. The new car has a raised nose with the mainplane hanging under it like F1 cars. In my opinion I think it will be worse because in alot of the crashes the mainplane is just going to shear off the nose and it will become a ramp to lift the car. The Underwing on the new car also sticks way out between the Tub and front tires which I think will also make a launch pad. Not to impressed with what they have come up with. The rear bumper also won't really help because the force of an impact like yesterdays will just shear it off too and then the tires will launch the cars. About the only helpful part of the new car is the wider bodywork and the fact the front wing and rear bumper are wider than the tires and will stop wheel interlocking but that really isn't a huge problem anyways. Bottom line is at 224 which is what JR's lap speed was going into turn 1 that lap the impact and force of the hit is just too big and no car can be designed for that. Big thing is keeping them out of the fence. Not sure how you can guarantee that doesn't happen. Otherwise even at 200+ mph these cars are actually pretty safe. The cars have alot of things in them that keep the drivers from getting hurt like the way we do the seats, headrests, radiators, bodywork, suspension etc.
1blue99srx600
New member
Very sad. I was at McCarran airport heading out of Vegas when I heard the news. I did not go to the race but saw the parade of cars on the strip. Prayers go out to his family.
yamahauler
Active member
Very unfortunate, RIP Dan.
dmsrx...are you over the wall on the races as well?
dmsrx...are you over the wall on the races as well?
Very sad day yesterday condolences go out to his wife & kids.
we have been open wheel followers since back in the old cart series days
After listening to him doing commentary on the races in the television booth after his win at indy and not having a ride for rest of the season i did gain a respect for him with his insight and descriptions of the races he was very good at relaying the drivers prospective, and like he said he would like the commentary job down the road but as a driver he felt his place was in a race car. Sadly it seemed that good things where coming Wife Kids new ride with Andretti next year, He will be missed.
we have been open wheel followers since back in the old cart series days
After listening to him doing commentary on the races in the television booth after his win at indy and not having a ride for rest of the season i did gain a respect for him with his insight and descriptions of the races he was very good at relaying the drivers prospective, and like he said he would like the commentary job down the road but as a driver he felt his place was in a race car. Sadly it seemed that good things where coming Wife Kids new ride with Andretti next year, He will be missed.
hamburgchf
New member
So sad to here about these terrible accidents, my sympathy to his family and friends, brings back many sad memories of the lose of the MAN #3