HOW THE SPORT IS KILLED

Principessa · Post 02 Apr 2006, 15:54

Two old men teaching us about f1 history

I'm glad nothing bad happened today too...because some of the cars were heavy damaged!
I remember the death of Senna when I was only 8 years. It's weird but I remember seeing the crash together with my father and mother and I was really shocked by this images. When I heard my mother said: "It's too late for a doctor, he's gone"...I remember that like it was yesterday! I really hope nothing like this will happen in F1 in the future! There are a lot of stupid rules in F1, yes, but safety did improve a lot!

manchild · Post 02 Apr 2006, 15:59

Principessa wrote:Two old men teaching us about f1 history

Yeah, Dave and I were just playing on-line chess and discussing about slippers when you interrupted us with this post

DaveKillens · Post 02 Apr 2006, 16:20

manchild wrote:No problem Dave when I'm writing about history I'm doing it because of the young people on this forum who haven't witnessed those events.

We must remember and honor great people and drivers. And even more important, we must never be so arrogant to believe tragedy cannot, and will not strike again.

Principessa · Post 02 Apr 2006, 16:23

You're totally right dave! I really hope nothing bad will happen, because...there have been a lot of incidents the last 3 races, especially today of course!

Tom · Post 02 Apr 2006, 20:54

I am probably one of the youngest here and I have heard of the majority of the listed accidents. I have seen many shocking videos and disturbing pictures, esspecially Martin Donnaly's legs hanging out the front of a modern F1 car, however, Like DaveKillens I was amazed that having so many destructive accidents today, particularely Klien's, not one driver suffered the slightest injuries.

Clearly this is a tribute to the strenghth of modern F1 machines, the FIA and most of all Dr Sid Watkins and all the medics who workso hard at each meeting to ensure everyone is in top condition. It is also proof that men like Senna and Ratzenberger did not die completly in vain. It is thanks to them that Liuzzi's car didn't fold in on him today.

The last seriouse F1 injury I remember was MS in 1999. Hopefully it will be the last the sport ever sees.

m3_lover · Post 02 Apr 2006, 22:46

Didn't Dr Sid Watkins retire from F1?

Tom · Post 03 Apr 2006, 00:29

Yes, but he did a hell of a lot for track safety and I think hes still a neurosurgeon.

DaveKillens · Post 03 Apr 2006, 00:47

When Dr Sid Watkins was brought in by the FIA, he laid the roadmap for much improved post-crash medical response. If a driver was injured, the very best thing he could see was Dr Sid's face. The driver then knew that the very best organization and medical skills were working on his needs. And it was a medical expert familiar with racing injures and that field of expertise.
It was truly a quantum leap in driver safety and protection. Not only post-crash, but the preparation and training in themselves added an extra level of protection.

vyselegend · Post 03 Apr 2006, 02:02

Thanks for all the data manchild! Actually I was talking about La Sarthe not because of recent incident but concerning the part of responsabillity of locals organisers. This track has one of the bumpiest surface of the world, and is also one of the fastest, wich is obviously a dangerous combo, plus it lacks run-off areas in some critical points, and there are concrete walls as well! I'm afraid they'll only realise the URGE to built a new tarmac and update overall safety when the next fatal incident will happen.

Back to Imola, I can't belive that the lacking of tyres barriers has something to do with money. It may be naive but the main problem I think is the space. If you are to put a tyre barrier in front of the walls, then you reduce the already ridiculous run off by 1.5m at least, so you can't resonably do it without making arrangements, wich bring back the money question of course, but the reason is there isn't enough space, the track is confined in a tin.

manchild · Post 03 Apr 2006, 09:10

vyselegend wrote:Back to Imola, I can't belive that the lacking of tyres barriers has something to do with money. It may be naive but the main problem I think is the space. If you are to put a tyre barrier in front of the walls, then you reduce the already ridiculous run off by 1.5m at least, so you can't resonably do it without making arrangements, wich bring back the money question of course, but the reason is there isn't enough space, the track is confined in a tin.

1994 version of Imola with old rubber wouldn't have been narrower than circuits like Albert Park or Gilles Villeneuve are today.

vyselegend · Post 03 Apr 2006, 12:01

yes it's true. For Albert Park this is special because it is a street circuit, and nobody can seriously asking for big run-offs in a city street circuit (just like monaco), but Gille Villeuneuve is a good exemple too, actually I don't see it safer than imola, the wall in the main straight chicane is especially dangerous. But, who is in charge of safety, the FIA or the circuit's owners / organisers? Can the FIA decide of updates on a venue, or do they just have a "veto" wich allows 'em to cancel an event if the safety doesn't satisfy themselves?

manchild · Post 03 Apr 2006, 15:51

It is up to FIA. FIA linceses the circuits and can ask for modifications and postpone licensing or move circuit from calendar if changes are not satisfactory. Also, before each event FIA delegates and other race officials are inspectiong the circuit before first practices. Changes can also be demanded between sessions even during a stopped session.