NASCAR: Elliott Sadler Crash Exposes Pocono Safety Weaknesses (with video)

When a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver slides sideways off a straightaway like Elliott Sadler did Sunday at Pocono Raceway, how is it possible that he can hit anything directly head-on, as Sadler did?

It's possible because Pocono has a earthen berm at that section of the track that juts out from the regular inside wall, sticking into the runoff area. The berm is fronted by an old steel guardrail, and it was into that guardrail that Sadler's No. 19 Ford hit dead head-on in the most violent crash of the year and the most needlessly violent crash in quite some time.

It was the second horrific crash of the summer at Pocono, and several drivers, including Sunday's winner, Greg Biffle, and points leader Kevin Harvick, harshly criticized the lack of modern safety standards at the Pennsylvania track after the first crash, which saw Kasey Kahne's car nearly sail over the outside wall in the June race.
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http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/08/01/elliott-sadler-crash-exposes-pocono-safety-weaknesses

The video is wild
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thxd1vgWLTw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0TjE24eZ2M

far worse than Earnhardt's, IMHO. It's never good when your motor is sitting by itself in the infield. It was a little scary watching Sadler get out of his car and lie down on the track.

from 2008 Don't worry, ** He walked away from it**

as there is perfect footage of it. The Sadler crash we can hardly see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZyCRaVZx3Q

Without the HANS device, they would be dead.

DW and crew play up the car, and the SAFER barriers, but the HANS device is the point of contact that keeps the necks from snapping.



And Pocono does suck for safety, it's like a 1960's grand prix track. The grass has got to go and be replaced by asphalt, the backstretch has to have a fence. Etc. etc. It was built for Indy cars, but they quit that place while the getting was good.

My husband and my reactions were "ooooh, DAMN, that looks bad."
Yikes.