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This question has been "bugging" me ever since Jeff Gordon and Sam Hornish Jr's wreck and I really began to think about it after Jason Leffler's crash in the Nationwide Friday practice, is Watkins Glen too dangerous? Look at the facts and what Sam Hornish Jr's crew chief had to say that can be found on NASCAR.com. The Glen doesn't have any SAFER Barriers, but only steel guard rails. Also, they have tire barriers and sand traps. But are tire barriers, sand traps, and guard rails safe? Don't get me wrong, NASCAR made a very good call putting in the tire barriers to soften the blow and sand traps to slow the car down, but tire barriers aren't SAFER Barriers people. The sand traps are also in places that they need to....almost. Anyone that overshoots the bus stop flies right into a sand trap, slowing the car down. Also, anyone that wheel hops turn 10 will fly right into the sand trap. But what about turn 9? That is the FASTEST corner on the racetrack, shouldn't a sand trap be put there? Also, why is the Glen nothing but guard rails? It is the only track on the circuit that still has guard rails. Why not put in SAFER barriers? Unlike tire barriers, SAFER Barriers give and absorb impact. Tire barriers take the impact and throws it back out onto the car, sending it back on the racetrack, endangering the other cars. Let's take a look at this:
The common denominator is a car ricochets back onto the racetrack and collects more than it probably should of. So now the question comes: Is Watkins Glen Too Dangerous? I've provided a poll that you can vote on, but you can further explain your choice in the post.
Everyone's going to have their own opinion about this, and there may be plenty of disagreements, but I think the Glen is too dangerous with what they have. That track has too much speed just to have tire barriers, sand traps, and steel guard rails. Something must be done such as putting in concrete walls/SAFER Barriers and putting a sand trap in turn 9. Again. everyone has their own opinion.
This question has been "bugging" me ever since Jeff Gordon and Sam Hornish Jr's wreck and I really began to think about it after Jason Leffler's crash in the Nationwide Friday practice, is Watkins Glen too dangerous? Look at the facts and what Sam Hornish Jr's crew chief had to say that can be found on NASCAR.com. The Glen doesn't have any SAFER Barriers, but only steel guard rails. Also, they have tire barriers and sand traps. But are tire barriers, sand traps, and guard rails safe? Don't get me wrong, NASCAR made a very good call putting in the tire barriers to soften the blow and sand traps to slow the car down, but tire barriers aren't SAFER Barriers people. The sand traps are also in places that they need to....almost. Anyone that overshoots the bus stop flies right into a sand trap, slowing the car down. Also, anyone that wheel hops turn 10 will fly right into the sand trap. But what about turn 9? That is the FASTEST corner on the racetrack, shouldn't a sand trap be put there? Also, why is the Glen nothing but guard rails? It is the only track on the circuit that still has guard rails. Why not put in SAFER barriers? Unlike tire barriers, SAFER Barriers give and absorb impact. Tire barriers take the impact and throws it back out onto the car, sending it back on the racetrack, endangering the other cars. Let's take a look at this:
- 2007 Centurion Boats at the Glen: Big wreck started after car gets turned into guard rail and comes back onto racetrack through the esses.
- 2008 Centurion Boats at the Glen: Huge wreck started after retaliation spin turns David Gilliland into foam barrier off of turn 10, comes back onto track, blocking entire exit of turn 10.
- 2009 Heluva Good Sour Creams and Dips at the Glen: Kasey Kahne turns Sam Hornish Jr. into turn 9 tire barrier, sending him back across the racetrack in front of Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton, sparking a six-car pile up.
The common denominator is a car ricochets back onto the racetrack and collects more than it probably should of. So now the question comes: Is Watkins Glen Too Dangerous? I've provided a poll that you can vote on, but you can further explain your choice in the post.
Everyone's going to have their own opinion about this, and there may be plenty of disagreements, but I think the Glen is too dangerous with what they have. That track has too much speed just to have tire barriers, sand traps, and steel guard rails. Something must be done such as putting in concrete walls/SAFER Barriers and putting a sand trap in turn 9. Again. everyone has their own opinion.
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