Pocono

[René]

Did any of you guys see the Robert Wickens crash?

My god that was a frightening accident. He's lucky to have survived that one but it remains to be seen how well he will recover. He was such a promising prospect this year, a possible future champ. I really hope he recovers well.

[Carl]

Aug 20, 2018 21:57:46 GMT René said:

Did any of you guys see the Robert Wickens crash?

My god that was a frightening accident. He's lucky to have survived that one but it remains to be seen how well he will recover. He was such a promising prospect this year, a possible future champ. I really hope he recovers well.

Yes.  It was dreadful, a crash that could easily have been fatal and, as you say, a full recovery remains in doubt.  There was a terrible hour during which many doubted his survival before it was announced that he had been awake and alert.  His injuries include damage to the spine serious enough to be the surgical priority and we all hope and pray for continued good news.    

The angled catch fences are deadly, being designed to keep speeding race cars inside the track.  There is no structural energy absorption beyond the minimal flex of the heavy chain link.     

[Carl]

The accident happened on the first lap of a restart. There are bumps from ground settling on either side of the tunnel underneath Turn 2 for infield access, not a place to be wheel to wheel. Just a slight upset at 200 mph will move even the best driven car up toward the wall, only a few inches when well controlled, but that was all the distance required for the slight touch that started all hell to break loose.

The accident and the fears everyone had for Robert Wickens affected the entire day.  They should have rescheduled to allow proper repairs to the catch fencing, but instead made hurried repairs so the less than enthusiastic drivers could proceed.

[robmarsh]

I was shocked at the severity of the crash and surprised he survived. Robert Wickens was the driver I have been supporting in Indycar this year.

I was also surprised at the state of the track eg the bump mentioned by Carl but also by the state of the fencing which looked like it had never seen a touch of paint. The poles were rusted and very second hand looking. The tracks that Indycar race on look very agricultural and poorly maintained compared to F1, almost as if the series is run on a shoestring. I know we all complain about the excesses of F1 and the sometimes very sanitised tracks but when 200mph+ projectiles are racing one does expect the tracks to be maintained and capable of supporting them.

The size of the crowd was very small as well and gives one the strong impression that motor racing has lost it's appeal. This does not bode well for circuit owners who need the crowds to finance track upkeep. It is not just Indycar, NASCAR crowds are smaller this year too.

Sadly I think we are not far away from a really huge accident where somebody loses their life.

[charleselan]

A truly terrible looking accident and one just hopes that the surgeons can mend Rob Wickens as they did Sebastian Bourdais.

It has to be said that this kind of racing on venues like that have become somewhat out of place in todays world. Ovals were always dangerous due to the very nature of the high sustained speed, and for modern day cars for some decades now it does appear to be rather out dated.

Yes we all criticise the current Tilkedomes for their anodyne nature, but surely there is a sensible line to be drawn somewhere between the two extremes.

[Carl]

Rob and John Charles,

I'm not a fan of big ovals, but they've been the bread and butter of American racing since the earliest speed trials on horse racing tracks planted the idea of constant left turns.  For several decades, Brooklands and Indianapolis were credible rivals in the category of test track evolving into race track. I love small dirt tracks, but the sustained high speeds on big ovals are often simply boring. What would improve both the racing and safety of big ovals, including Indianapolis, are chicanes to slow everyone down into dangerously fast corners like Turn 2 at Pocono. I don't mean chicanes like the first one at Monza and the last at Suzuka. The spectacle of drivers drafting on the approach to a properly fast chicane and jockeying for position into the braking area would easily supplant the spectacle of constant speed. If enacted and tried by one of the big ovals, this could provide the sensible balance called for by John Charles.

One reason the crowd was sparse at Pocono is that after 1989, partly for safety reasons, IndyCar went elsewhere and stayed away for almost 25 years.  The fan base there is now diehard NASCAR simpletons unable to grasp that faster and more nimble single-seaters provide better racing. Crowded stands are the norm at Long Beach, Road America, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Barber Motorsports Park and ovals like Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Iowa and Phoenix. Returning to the doubtful safety and fan base at Pocono appears to have been a mistake.

Cheers, Carl

[Jamie]

Late to the party on this one chaps, sorry. That was an awful accident and a real shame for Robert as I too had been rooting for him this year, along with Dixon.

As Carl says Ponoco is a weird one and not really Indycar territory, in general though the trend seems to be ever so slightly up for Indycar but a massive decline for Nascar which reverses the trend of the last decade or so (at least).

I’ve never liked Nascar myself and don’t see the appeal but it’s a worrying trend for American motorsports of which I’m a big fan in general, the IMSA weathertech series being my absolute favourite. I see that Mazda are calling time on there involvement in the ‘Mazda Road to Indy’ junior ladder as well.....I sincerely hope this gets picked up by an appropriate backer.

[Jamie]

I see from Racer.com that Robert is now breathing unaided and speaking with his family so good news.

Sounds like a racing return is unlikely or, at least, far off. Just glad he’s not another soldier lost to the good fight.

[René]

Just read the sad news that Robert Wickens is paralysed from the waste down. His upper body is getting stronger but his legs do not function. He posted a video on Instagram (link).

Robert looked like a future champion but that is not going to happen. Motorsport is still very dangerous.

[robmarsh]

Thanks for the update René. Very sad indeed, that crash was horrendous.

[charleselan]

Horrible to hear that, such a delicate area of the human anatomy the spine. Some have severe injuries around that point and end up Ok, poor Robert is not so fortunate.

All forms of motor sport (and other contact sports for that matter) have inherent risk, however it has to be said that high speed ovals are extreme.

[Jamie]

That is bad news, just been reading about it over at Racer.com after René’s post.

Obviously awful for poor Robert and his family and also for his supporters, of which I am one. I really wanted him to win a race this season and it’s unlikely he ever will now of course which is terribly sad all round.

Here’s hoping he finds his groove some other way.

[chrisb]

really sorry to hear this terrible news, I was relieved to hear he had survived the accident but this is an awful consequence, best wishes Robert

[charleselan]

I have just read something written by Robert himself and it appears that he may have a chance of regaining the use of his legs, but it will take time. He says that there is feeling beginning to come in his legs and that his spinal cord has not been severed but is badly bruised, this in its self is what brings hope.

Some light at the end of the tunnel and this all that we could wish for.

[chrisb]

thoughts, hopes and prayers to Robert, and best wishes -