Did a bit of math yesterday... 200 mph to 0 mph in about 12 inches, which is the
approximate amount of crush of the sidepods on a CART Champ Car happens in 2.27
milliseconds (0.00227 sec) at an average deceleration of 4008g. Figure the
initial spike was higher, but in the absence of the incident data-logger
information, that's the best I can do based on seeing the incident and knowing a
bit about Champ Car configuration and engineering.
If you were to add 12 inches of compressible barrier (like a Fitch barrier,
banded tires -- 3 layers deep to get a foot of crush -- or expanded
polystyrene), you drop the deceleration to 2004g average over 4.54 milliseconds.
Still not survivable. Brain, heart, and other internal organs break loose from
their moorings and that's all there is.
Nothing inherently wrong with the track design -- Ritchie Hearn hit in almost
the exact same spot in almost the exact same way at almost the exact same speed
a few laps earlier and walked away from it, the difference being he hit square
and maybe scrubbed off a little more speed on the asphalt first before getting
to the grass (he had more of an arc to his spin, Greg's was more straight-line).
Greg's car hit left-rear first and sort of whip-cracked the front into the wall.
It's always a sad day for motorsports to lose one of its big stars in a racing
collision. Motorsports is an inherently dangerous activity, period. Every time
you get into the car, be it the local Solo2 or a CART superspeedway race, you
take a calculated risk. That's part of the appeal to the participants: the
opportunity to demonstrate your skill at walking the edge between in control and
out of control. Greg Moore was one of the best at walking that edge, and
motorsports as a whole suffers from his loss.
To those who look at Greg Moore's death during a race as another opportunity to
decry motorsports as a barbaric meat grinder that eats its stars, put your money
where your mouth is. Quit watching. Quit participating. Don't show the
highlights on your sports "news" show in an effort to increase ratings. Be
consistent with your words and your actions. Motorsports will continue just
fine without you. Advances will continue to be made in safety technology, but
there will always be that calculated risk.
Jim Crider
Someone who once helped Greg Moore out of a wrecked race car, over the tires,
and through the fence (Detroit GP, practice, 1996). Greg was a genuinely nice
guy, and I raise my glass to him.
|