VERBOTN

^+1 and that inner wall/barrier shunted a tremendous amount of energy something not always available on tracks that I race on.

TwentySix

Damn. That was some hit

I'm still messed up years later from not taking my hands off the wheel when I got hit in a road accident, but I didn't see it coming... it was cool to see Danica get her hands out of the way

paradisenb

Her head still didn't come anywhere close to leaving the confines of the containment seat. Neither laterally or forward. (would like to see in super slow mo) That was a big offset (RF) and secondary hit on the right side. I was a little concered for her right wrist getting broken because it was between her helmet and the seat. I think she was fortunate in that regard.

TwentySix

I was just about to go back and see what seat it was in the video

Circuit Motorsports

That's just about the scariest angle for most people to wreck. That 30-60 degree offset impact. A few big reasons that it wasn't as big a deal for her in that car. First as has been mentioned, the safer barrier, was nice to see work. The second is the speedway head restraint.

It looks like one of the custom CF Hendrick seats with a bead seat/impact foam insert.

On the right side on the speedway cars the halo extends past the front of the drivers helmet and block the view to the right (part of the need for spotters). Frame by frame you see her head get darn near the end of it and out of it, if not all the way, her shoulders go past their restraint, her body squeezes out to the right, even in this full containment seat.

If this had been in any of the regular road seats, Sparco, Racetech, I'd bet she would have been in the passenger area before stopping. The entry level Kirkey seat would probably be bent in half.

gbuff

Yesterday I watched a replay of last year's Spa--when Hamilton had his bad shunt he did that very thing. He still got knocked around quite badly and was really slow in reacting when the car finally came to a stop......

Gary

sig_a

The impact protection on the externals of her body worked great. But do these same safety devices also protect her internals from the severe jolt to her brain, heart, kidneys, etc?

She's maturing into a smart and safe pro driver. Also has a great reserve of ambition to prove herself.

I admire her guts. Hope she knows when to walk away.

GTgears

Ouch. That was not a glancing blow. I bet she's a bit sore this morning...

fatbillybob

That's why right side nets are still recommended even with halo seats. I've had two big shunts in fully supported ultrashield roadrace superseats similar to the butler or laJoie full containment seats. I credit them with me walking away without even being dazzed. I cringe at people using aluminum seats supported only at the base. They fold like pretzels. If you don't go all the way at leaset us a currently dated FIA seat.

jrgordonsenior

I noticed her rear brakes were locked up all the way into the wall. Don't know if she rode them into the wall or the motor locked up but you can see it in the video....

analogmike

We know what to do, but doing it is another thing.

At Sebring my car snap spun at 130 and I was spinning so fast I had no idea where I was. I did a death grip on the wheel while trying to push the brake pedal through the floor. Luckily I hit mostly in the rear and only sprained my right wrist a bit. Will try to remember next time!!!

DCP

That's interesting. Maybe it makes sense in open cockpit cars. Leaving your hands down might expose them to things crushing around them.

Geoffrey

Poor girl.

winders

There is no reason to think the motor locked up. I don't see tire smoke until she gets sideways. The in-car camera shows her trying to steer into the spin and that she does not move to the brake until just before she removed her hands from the steering wheel.

Scott

APKhaos

That really is open wheel training & experience. Its about the only safe place for your hands in a tight open wheel cockpit. Stout hit, and looks like she did everything right.