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As Wary Fans Return After Crash, Nascar Plans Safety Review As Wary Fans Return After Crash, Nascar Plans Safety Review
(about 2 hours later)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It was Sunday morning and Fran McCabe of Ormond Beach, Fla., was back in her customary seat in Section H a few rows up from the catch-fence along the front stretch at Daytona International Speedway. That is where McCabe, her husband and son sit every year for the Daytona 500. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It was Sunday morning and Fran McCabe of Ormond Beach, Fla., was back in her customary seat in Section H a few rows up from the catch-fence along the front stretch at Daytona International Speedway. That is where McCabe and her husband and son sit every year for the Daytona 500.
And that is where they were sitting Saturday when Kyle Larson’s No. 32 racecar went airborne in a 12-car pileup at the end of a Nationwide Series race and slammed into the fence right in front of them.And that is where they were sitting Saturday when Kyle Larson’s No. 32 racecar went airborne in a 12-car pileup at the end of a Nationwide Series race and slammed into the fence right in front of them.
“My heart’s still pounding,” McCabe, 59, a former Smithtown, N.Y., resident, said of the terror the day before. “We saw the car come through, the wheel went right over my husband’s head. The suspension went over mine. The tire landed on a guy a few rows back. The engine landed right there on fire. It was very scary. “My heart’s still pounding,” McCabe, 59, a former Smithtown, N.Y., resident, said of the terror the day before. “We saw the car come through. The wheel went right over my husband’s head. The suspension went over mine. The tire landed on a guy a few rows back. The engine landed right there, on fire. It was very scary.
“God was with us. Because people all around us were hurt.”“God was with us. Because people all around us were hurt.”
At least 28 fans were injured from debris that shot into the stands, even flying into the upper deck. Track officials sent 14 to area hospitals, with two initially taken away in critical condition, including one minor. Nascar’s president, Mike Helton, said most of the injured had been released from the hospital by Sunday afternoon. Only two remained at a Halifax Health Medical Center and both were stabilized, according to a statement released by the hospital. At least 28 fans were injured by debris that shot into the stands; some wreckage reached the upper deck. Track officials sent 14 people to area hospitals, with two taken away in critical condition.
The crash did not delay the start of the much-hyped season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday, with Danica Patrick on the pole and a fleet of new racecars on the track. Repairs to the 22-foot-high fence were made overnight. On Sunday, the only sign of the large hole torn through the fence were bolts holding extra pieces of cable together on the new fencing and a little marking on a fence post at the site of the crash that read, “New 2-23-13.” Fresh white paint covered the marks on the wall. Nascar’s president, Mike Helton, said most of the injured had been released from the hospital by Sunday afternoon. Two remained at Halifax Health Medical Center, and both were stabilized, according to a statement released by the hospital.
“At 8 a.m. we met with Nascar,” the Daytona International Speedway president, Joie Chitwood, said Sunday morning. “We reviewed all the repairs we made last evening. We worked late into the evening and are prepared to go racing today.” The crash did not delay the start of the season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday, won by Jimmie Johnson, with the pole-sitter Danica Patrick finishing eighth. Repairs to the 22-foot-high fence were made overnight. On Sunday, the only sign of the large hole torn through the fence was bolts holding extra pieces of cable together on the new fencing and a little marking on a fence post at the site of the crash that read “New 2-23-13.” Fresh white paint covered the marks on the wall.
But Nascar is already planning a review of catch-fence safety after the accident, the second in recent years in which a racecar went airborne, hit the fence and sprayed debris on fans. Seven fans were injured in 2009 when Carl Edwards went airborne at Talladega Speedway in Alabama and hit the catch-fence there. “At 8 a.m., we met with Nascar,” the Daytona International Speedway president, Joie Chitwood, said Sunday morning. “We reviewed all the repairs we made last evening. We worked late into the evening and are prepared to go racing today.”
But Nascar is planning a review of catch-fence safety after the accident, the second in recent years in which a racecar went airborne, hit the fence and sprayed debris on fans. Seven fans were injured in 2009 when Carl Edwards went airborne at Talladega Speedway in Alabama and hit the catch-fence there.
“I think it’s something we’ve always looked at,” said Steve O’Donnell, Nascar’s senior vice president for racing operations. “This is not something new.“I think it’s something we’ve always looked at,” said Steve O’Donnell, Nascar’s senior vice president for racing operations. “This is not something new.
“It’s something we look at with outside experts. This will be an evolving process. If there’s something we can learn today, tomorrow, we’ll implement that.”“It’s something we look at with outside experts. This will be an evolving process. If there’s something we can learn today, tomorrow, we’ll implement that.”
The IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti turned to Twitter on Saturday night after the crash to ask Nascar and the IndyCar Series to change catch-fence technology to better improve safety. Dan Wheldon, an IndyCar Series driver, was killed in a crash in 2011 when his racecar went airborne and hit a catch-fence at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti turned to Twitter on Saturday night after the crash to urge Nascar and the IndyCar Series to change catch-fence technology to improve safety. Dan Wheldon, an IndyCar Series driver, was killed in a crash in 2011 when his racecar went airborne and hit a catch-fence at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Franchitti’s call was echoed on Sunday by Johnny Rutherford, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner who was at Daytona for the race. Franchitti’s call was echoed Sunday by Johnny Rutherford, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner who was at Daytona for the race.
“Yes, I’d be stupid to say no,” Rutherford said when asked about improving catch-fences. “Definitely — maybe a double fence, one behind the other with some space between to stop something like this. But there are a lot of things and, of course, Nascar and the IndyCar Series are looking at everything they can to try to make it safer. “Yes, I’d be stupid to say no,” Rutherford said when asked about improving catch-fences. “Definitely — maybe a double fence, one behind the other with some space between to stop something like this. But there are a lot of things, and of course, Nascar and the IndyCar Series are looking at everything they can to try to make it safer.
“What happened yesterday was a terrible thing because the drivers, we accept that. We accepted that and that’s part of the game that we have to roll the dice and move on. But you don’t want to involve the fans.” “What happened yesterday was a terrible thing because the drivers — we accept that. We accepted that, and that’s part of the game that we have to roll the dice and move on. But you don’t want to involve the fans.”
Chitwood said he didn’t believe those fans were at risk close to the catch-fence even after the accident. Even after the accident, Chitwood said he didn’t believe fans close to the catch-fence were at risk.
“I think we’ve got very good safety protocols,” he said. “I think we’ve done a great job being prepared for our racing events. Incidents do happen and I think those are the exception. If you look at our 55 years in the business, we have a pretty good safety track record. I think we’re prepared today.” “I think we’ve got very good safety protocols,” he said. “I think we’ve done a great job being prepared for our racing events. Incidents do happen, and I think those are the exception. If you look at our 55 years in the business, we have a pretty good safety track record. I think we’re prepared today.”
And the fans were back Sunday, even in that section in front of the catch-fence. David Nobles, 44, of Huntingtown, Md., had been there with his 8-year-old son the day before.And the fans were back Sunday, even in that section in front of the catch-fence. David Nobles, 44, of Huntingtown, Md., had been there with his 8-year-old son the day before.
“I didn’t see anything else except the car lift and the bottom of the car coming at us” Nobles said. “It’s coming at you. It was just a matter of not knowing where pieces were going to fly when it hits the fence. He and I dove into the floor and I covered him up.” “I didn’t see anything else except the car lift and the bottom of the car coming at us,” Nobles said. “It’s coming at you. It was just a matter of not knowing where pieces were going to fly when it hits the fence. He and I dove into the floor, and I covered him up.”
Still, Nobles came back with his wife and two children. And he said he didn’t plan to change his seats next year. Still, Nobles returned with his wife and two children. And he said he didn’t plan to change his seats next year.
But the McCabes, who considered not even coming to Sunday’s race, won’t be back there after this year. But the McCabes, who considered staying away from Sunday’s race, won’t be back there after this year.
“We’ve had these seats for years and we probably won’t do it again,” Fran McCabe said. “I don’t want to be quite that close.” “We’ve had these seats for years, and we probably won’t do it again,” Fran McCabe said. “I don’t want to be quite that close.”