too dangerous!

[crash]

Don't know hardly anything about NASCAR, but what I have noticed is the number of fatal accidents. What's going on?

Is anything being done to make it safer?

[Lee]

Crash,
Sadly, just as in all forms of racing, NASCAR's various different series will always have the potential for accidents that cost lives. I think it was ironic that these 3 accidents took a life in each of the top series on the circuit, Winston Cup - Kenny Irwin, Busch Grand National - Adam Petty, and Craftsman Trucks - Tony Roper. Also, that two of them occured at the same track, in similar accidents, in the same location on the track. However, the fact remains that NASCAR is, by far the safest form of racing to be found. You would have to go back to 1964, if I'm not mistaken, to find a year that had multiple deaths like this season. NASCAR races more miles, annually, than any other series in the world, and if you compair the number of deaths per racing miles, over the years, you will find that there are far less in NASCAR than anywhere else. I know there are measures underway by both by NASCAR, and by individual, such as Jack Roush, to provide safety improvements. Several tracks are working to develop soft walls of different designs, to help in that area. Will it completely eliminate the aspect of death, unfortunatly no, but it will improve the sitution. In 1964, after the firey wreck at Charlotte Motor Speedway, that ultimatly cost "Fireball" Roberts his life, NASCAR worked with Firestone to devise the fuel cell, that has saved countless lifes since then. I'm sure, that with time, similar results will come from inovations devised in the aftermath of these unfortunate accidents that cost us so dearly this season.

[gomick]

it happens in motorsport, look at formula 1, 2 deaths in 1 weekend in 1994 (only 2 in last 14 years)....nascar are as safe as any top motorsport catergory and its just freak occurence that these 3 deaths have occurred this year. remember cart had 2 in 1999 aswell - lets hope it is a few years before another inevitable tradgedy occurs.

[Joe Fan]

I think NASCAR has been a victim of circumstances in these fatalities. It is still the safest form of motorsport when you use statistically adequate historical samples when compared to CART and F1 but these deaths do show that even the safest form of motorsport is vulnerable and that it must continually strive to improve safety. The message in my mind is that NASCAR must learn something from these deaths and try to improve the safety for its stars--the drivers. I think they will but I am not sure how they will be able to address it. I looks to me that is must continue to evaluate the HANS device. The tubular frame chassis allows for energy absortion and offers great protection for the driver in the driver compartment but it is evidently not able to absorb enough energy in impact at the very corners of the front of the car in order to prevent fatal neck injuries.