Why did this happen?

[pennst24]

Richardson taken to hospital after race: UPDATES: R3 Motorsports driver #23-Robert Richardson Jr. was transported to a Michigan hospital following an accident in the Carfax 250 on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. A team spokesman said Richardson was conscious and alert and was taken for observation as a precautionary measure. Richardson, a 28-year-old driver from Texas, has competed in 16 Nationwide Series races this season for his family-owned team.(Scene Daily)(8-14-2010)
UPDATE: R3 Motorsports driver Robert Richardson Jr. was on his way home from a Michigan hospital Saturday after all tests proved negative following an accident where Richardson was tapped by Steve Wallace and slapped the wall during the Carfax 250 on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. (Scene Daily)(8-13-2010)
UPDATE: The impact [of Richardon's wreck] was so severe it caused slight injuries to Richardson's left leg, his upper abdomen and he hit his head so hard he said he blacked out for an instant while going down the backstretch. Coming to his senses just as he entered Turn 3, Richardson managed not to hit anyone else or get in harm's way before coming to pit road. Once in the garage, the team discovered the severity of the impact as their brand-new Chevy's chassis was bent so bad that, from first assessment, it seems the car is a total loss. Meanwhile, Richardson was taken to the Infield Care Center at MIS to be checked out. After being looked at by medical personnel, it was determined he needed to go to a local hospital for a precautionary CAT scan to make sure there were no cranial or internal body injuries. After the CAT scan and diagnosis, the 28-year old native of McKinney, Texas was released and traveled home on Saturday evening. He will have to do a follow up with a local doctor in Texas.(R3 Motorsports PR)(8-14-2010)

Umm, okay? A COT race, and this happens?

 

[Ryan597]

I know that's a werid injury from a small smack into the wall. I thought the NNS COT would be safe and wouldn't cause this :frown:.

 

[labontefanboy]

Anyone got a vid of this? I haven't seen one.

 

[Fisha695]

The injuries to the driver have all the signs of being caused by an improperly fitted seat.

The Chassis, well when you hit the wall at 200mph (well ok for him 180mph) and you are not perfectly perpendicular you're going to write-off the chassis. Although the way they describe it (if it is indeed a new chassis) it sounds like they got some bad steel.

 

[Carl Robinson]

i just think it was poor equipment in general. It was either a porl fitted seat that allowed him to move during the impact or bad quality of steel in the frame larry mac had said that the configuration chassis wise are identical to cup cars. With that being the case weve seen the impact theve taken and if it eas a general failure of the cot. Wouldnt elliot sadler be dead?

 

[MattSRD28]

Umm, okay? A COT race, and this happens?

You were expecting no driver to ever be injured in a race car again? Not realistic.

Wouldnt elliot sadler be dead?

Quite likely. Without the COT, HANS device and other features that weren't around 10 years ago when multiple drivers were killed, it's likely that Sadler would have sadly been included with them. Thankfully that did not happen, and hopefully we'll never have to mourn losing a driver in a crash again.

 

[super39fan]

I found the wreck vid, go to about 9:30 in this video:

Justin.tv - Nascar Racing - Nascar Nationwide Series Qualifying Live From Michigan Aug 14 2010 at 12:33PM PDT

 

[MillsLayne]

Some of the most innocent looking wrecks are the most deadly. Anyone remember John Nemechek dying a few days after hitting the wall at Homestead? He did hit drivers side, but it didn't seem that hard. Even Earnhardt Sr.'s wreck didn't seem too bad when it happened. No matter what they do with tracks and cars, injury and death will always be imminent possibilities.

 

[labontefanboy]

MillsLayne, don't forget about Jerry Nadeau. I never would've thought it would end his racing career, but it did. (Doesn't seem likely that he'll return, but ya never know.)

 

[dalejrgamer]

Some of the most innocent looking wrecks are the most deadly. Anyone remember John Nemechek dying a few days after hitting the wall at Homestead? He did hit drivers side, but it didn't seem that hard.

The Indy rip-off layout of Homestead has produced some of the worst-looking crash angles man has ever seen. Some wind up injured, some, like John here, dead. It's a good thing they converted to a true oval.

 

[MillsLayne]

MillsLayne, don't forget about Jerry Nadeau. I never would've thought it would end his racing career, but it did. (Doesn't seem likely that he'll return, but ya never know.)

Oh man, how could I forget the 'Deau!? His didn't look that bad, either and unfortunately, I'm pretty sure he's done. Last I heard, he still has double vision from time to time.

The Indy rip-off layout of Homestead has produced some of the worst-looking crash angles man has ever seen. Some wind up injured, some, like John here, dead. It's a good thing they converted to a true oval.

Plus, the racing is much better now. Just too bad it's got the last date on the schedule or else I think it would get more attention.

 

[MattSRD28]

Remember that when a race car doesn't appear to be significantly affected by a severe collision with the wall, the driver absorbed everything that you don't see. When a car literally bounces off the wall, look out.