Why do Nextel Cup drivers survive most wrecks & IRL drivers don't?

Question

Both use the hans device but why do IRL drivers keep dying & what could be done to improve Less driver dying in the IRL

Answer 1

Ok, since the IRL was created in 1996, there have been 3 drivers killed, Scott Brayton in 1996 and Tony Renna in 2003 at Indianapolis, and Paul Dana this year in practice at Homestead-Miami. In the same amount of time, in Nextel Cup racing, there have been 2 drivers killed, Kenny Irwin in 2000 and Dale Earnhardt in 2001. If you add in the Busch series, with the death of Adam Petty in 2000, there have been the same amount of deaths. In Champ Car (formerly CART), there have also been 3 deaths in the same time span: Gonzalo Rodriguez and Greg Moore in 1999, and Jeff Krosnoff in 1996.

So seeing that, one could conclude that one form isn't necessarily safer than the other. Drivers take their chances when they get out onto the track and they know that. And it's not as if the IRL and Champ Car don't take precautions to prevent bad accidents. In fact, the IRL limited their engines to 650hp and 10,300 rpm after a series of accidents in 2003.

I hope this helps set the record straight.

Answer 2

I think both series have and continue to do research on how to make their cars safe I think both have done a pretty good job of course there's always more that can be done.I dont know that more NASCAR drivers survive catastrophic crashes than do IRL drivers.I dont watch many IRL races so I dont know how many crashes they have NASCAR has em by the bunches but rarely are they catastrophic.Also in a Nextel Cup car you are riding in a tank compared to an IRL car I know IRL cars have roll bars and cages but you've got that open cockpit if a car flips the driver is close to the action susceptible to all kinds of bad things happening,also IRL cars are significantly faster

Answer 3

Both nascar and IRL push safety, but the main thing is the open cockpit on the IRL cars. A lot of flying metal can get to the driver, and the drivers head is exposed.

Answer 4

the number of deaths are all about equal. it's just IRL has had the most recent tragedies and it's resulted in a lot of exposure.
first loo at the setup. there is a lot more metal on a nascar to get through before it hits hte driver.
second, most indy cars hit at higher speeds. when they crash at 200mph+ the car just disinegrates..it's open wheel and what might be left of the car does not really protect the driver from anything that might be out there, i/e debri or another car. a nascar crunches like a regular car. so in a collision with another car there is the sheet metal to protect them. there isn't that in indy cars, or other open wheel cars. they aren't dyin b/c of lack of neck support or poor helmets..they are dying from massive body injury. i/e anothe car plunging through their seats..and so on.

unfortunately, i think they have really done everything possible to improve the safety of both sports. irl has out a lot into safety..so those that think nascar is the only one who wants safety is WAAAAY off. both have put massive amount of labor, and money into safety research and implementing those fndings. there are always risks at those speeds and the driver's know that.
with each accident both sports investigate hardcore, and so do the safety device companies to see if there is anything they can improve on..so if there is something, they will find it.

Answer 5

Faster cars, lower center of gravity I believe will equal a higher crash impact rate. NASCAR stock cars have the roll cage, HANS but something covering their heads. When a car flips over in NASCAR, the driver walks away better when an Indy Car driver goes airborne. When an IRL-type car goes right into the wall, the front of the car often goes through an "accordion effect" and it crumples together.

Answer 6

the speed. NASCAR drivers are OK because they are surrounded by parts of the car. IRL cars have a lot of open space.

Answer 7

nascar is now all about safety they do alot to protect the drivers maybe irl should do a little bit more cuz they could be safer somtin needs to be done
have a great day

Answer 8

Nascar has come up with some different rules and safety since the 1970's.

Answer 9

Most NASCAR racers are drunk, so their bodies are more relaxed when they crash. This means fewer injuries and greater survival rates. This is also why Busch series racers barely ever die.

Answer 10

irl has their head exposed