In the wake of last week’s tragic death of driver Dan Wheldon, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard spoke Monday morning with about 20 IndyCar drivers about their concerns and their ideas for the future.
Veteran drivers Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan spoke with the press after the meeting, explaining that it was a positive dialogue focused on improvements.
“We all got to talk a lot, listen a lot, and just look at, going forward, how we improve things in all areas. I think it was a very positive and productive meeting and that is the first step,” four-time champion Franchitti told Indiana radio station WIBC.
“How we react to this [tragedy] is critical—I am very encouraged by what I saw today. There are still a lot of heavy hearts—massively—but everybody was very positive as far as the outlook and by that I mean we had ideas.”
Former champion Tony Kanaan said the most encouraging part of the meeting was, “how unified we are and how we can work with IndyCar and the drivers to make racing a little bit less dangerous.”
Racing would never be safe, Kanaan warned. “It will always be dangerous. It’s always been and it always will be. Hopefully we will make it better and we will make it safer, but it will never be 100 percent safe.”
Franchitti added, “But we’re going to do everything we can to make it safe. We lost a very, very good friend last week and that’s not acceptable.”
New Car Addresses Some Concerns
IndyCar has been testing a new car for 2012, incorporating some safety features which might have prevented last week’s fatality, specifically rear bumpers to prevent wheel-to-wheel contact.
The greatest danger of open-wheel racing is that the front wheel of a following car can touch the rear wheel of the car in front, which lifts the rear car’s front end, often causing the car to flip or fly. Partially enclosing the wheels might prevent this.
Immediately after the accident at Las Vegas last Sunday, Canadian IndyCar driver Alex Tagline gave an interview to Francophone radio station CKOI in which he said he had talked to Randy Bernard in which Bernard claimed that the new oval-track version of the new 2012 car was going to undergo radical revisions to increase safety.
It is unlikely that the 2012 car could be drastically revised given the short time left before the teams need to start testing for next year, but according to another veteran driver, Davey Hamilton, some changes will be made by Dallara, the manufacturer.
“Dallara is doing extra with the new car so that we’re safe,” Hamilton told IndyCar.com.”We have to take it to the next level and be the leader on the cutting-edge of safety and I think the IndyCar Series is up for that.”
Many drivers have suggested that for oval tracks, the cars need less downforce and more horsepower. This combination would force drivers to use the brakes and throttle to control the cars on the most dangerous high-banked, high-speed oval tracks like Las Vegas, where the current approach is to floor the gas and steer; brakes are only used for pit stops.
These are areas—wing size and shape, and engine management—which could be easily adjusted for the coming season.
The greatest danger of open-wheel racing is that the front wheel of a following car can touch the rear wheel of the car in front, which lifts the rear car’s front end, often causing the car to flip or fly. Partially enclosing the wheels might prevent this.
Immediately after the accident at Las Vegas last Sunday, Canadian IndyCar driver Alex Tagline gave an interview to Francophone radio station CKOI in which he said he had talked to Randy Bernard in which Bernard claimed that the new oval-track version of the new 2012 car was going to undergo radical revisions to increase safety.
It is unlikely that the 2012 car could be drastically revised given the short time left before the teams need to start testing for next year, but according to another veteran driver, Davey Hamilton, some changes will be made by Dallara, the manufacturer.
“Dallara is doing extra with the new car so that we’re safe,” Hamilton told IndyCar.com.”We have to take it to the next level and be the leader on the cutting-edge of safety and I think the IndyCar Series is up for that.”
Many drivers have suggested that for oval tracks, the cars need less downforce and more horsepower. This combination would force drivers to use the brakes and throttle to control the cars on the most dangerous high-banked, high-speed oval tracks like Las Vegas, where the current approach is to floor the gas and steer; brakes are only used for pit stops.
These are areas—wing size and shape, and engine management—which could be easily adjusted for the coming season.
Canopies Coming?
Another area of danger with traditional open-wheeled cars is the open cockpit. Debris can strike a driver’s head, as with F1 driver Felipe Massa in 2010, or cars can run over each other and hit the driver. IndyCar driver Paul Tracy posted a photo of his helmet following last Sunday’s wreck showing tire marks on it.
Many have questioned whether clinging to the tradition of open wheels and open cockpits in formula cars (IndyCars, Formula One cars, and similar series) is worth the risk.
Team owner and former driver Sarah Fisher told ESPN, “Enclosing the cockpit isn’t something I would like. It doesn’t really go along with what we are. But if we feel it’s necessary for safety, then I wouldn’t throw it out just because it isn’t traditional.”
Track owner Eddy Gossage told ESPN the idea of a canopy “should be included in every safety-related conversation from here on out.”
Driver Graham Rahal posted on Twitter: “I would love a closed cockpit. Think it would be cool and safer. With technology the glass could be bulletproof and shatterproof.”
Whatever the future holds, it is all but certain the 2012 IndyCar will have open but protected wheels and an open cockpit when the season starts with the St. Petersburg Grand Prix on March 25, 2012.
“We’re not going to fix everything at once, or even next year,” Kanaan told ESPN. “This is a starting point for a long process. But everyone has a positive attitude about making the effort to make it better.”
Many have questioned whether clinging to the tradition of open wheels and open cockpits in formula cars (IndyCars, Formula One cars, and similar series) is worth the risk.
Team owner and former driver Sarah Fisher told ESPN, “Enclosing the cockpit isn’t something I would like. It doesn’t really go along with what we are. But if we feel it’s necessary for safety, then I wouldn’t throw it out just because it isn’t traditional.”
Track owner Eddy Gossage told ESPN the idea of a canopy “should be included in every safety-related conversation from here on out.”
Driver Graham Rahal posted on Twitter: “I would love a closed cockpit. Think it would be cool and safer. With technology the glass could be bulletproof and shatterproof.”
Whatever the future holds, it is all but certain the 2012 IndyCar will have open but protected wheels and an open cockpit when the season starts with the St. Petersburg Grand Prix on March 25, 2012.
“We’re not going to fix everything at once, or even next year,” Kanaan told ESPN. “This is a starting point for a long process. But everyone has a positive attitude about making the effort to make it better.”
