The Official 2008 F1 Series Thread

[TDE30]

...would have saved: Senna, Ratzenberger, Earnhardt, Adam Petty, etc.

[Charlie]

How was it uncalled for? Earnhardt was the only guy on the circuit who didn't wear a HANS device, in fact protesting it. And he died how? FROM HAVING HIS HEAD RIP OFF HIS NECK!!! That's the Darwin award right there.

Wrong.

Only a handful of drivers were running a HANS device prior to Earnhardt's death. We're talking like 3-4 guys. They weren't mandated, and he didn't "protest" it. He also wasn't the only guy to die due to a basal skull fracture. Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, John Nemechek and Tony Renna all died of BSF in the 2 years prior to Earnhardt's death.

Earnhardt refused to wear a closed face helmet, as did a lot of the other "old guard' drivers.

-Charlie

[Dave]

Umm, at the time, he was not the only guy running without it.

And as far as safety - its not just impact injury. At such high speeds and G loading, you are looking at guys blacking out or having internal injuries - which of course, might lead to crashes.

[TDE30]

Referring to someone who had a history like his with that sport as a "stupid redneck" is hardly tactful.

I guess when you come to power and have your F1 with rocket powered cars and ejector seats, the driver will just eject themselves when presented with the same scenario. :roll:

[BigD]

Easy there, cowboy. I dislike NASCAR as much as the next guy, but that was totally uncalled for.

How was it uncalled for? Earnhardt was the only guy on the circuit who didn't wear a HANS device, in fact protesting it. And he died how? FROM HAVING HIS HEAD RIP OFF HIS NECK!!! That's the Darwin award right there.