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[R.I.P.] NASCAR's Tony Stewart hits, kills driver

americanwoman said:
I don't know much about racing and nascar but I just don't understand why the guy got out of his car. I do feel bad for his family and my thoughts are with them. What struck me is that Stewart was still going to race yesterday but in the end didn't. I thought that was kind of heartless, even if it was an accident that he hit the guy. He, or his people, made the right decision not to race.
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Not just got out - he got out and walked right in the middle of it all.:shock:
 
Dirt Racer said:
These cars weigh approx #1300 lbs and have anywhere from 700 to 850 hp at the wheels. When you step on the gas that car is going to go sideways. The whole car is designed to turn left. The tires are staggered to go left, the suspension is set up to drive left, everything about these cars are about going left. I have driven them before and they do that job very well. On top of the fact that there is a VERY good chance the drivers had at least one way radios in the car with the tower telling them a car and driver was stopped on the track stay low.

I believe Tony mean't to scare the guy and clipped him. I don't for a second believe he intended on actually hitting him. Ward shouldn't have come that far down the track and Tony as well as the driver in front of him were going to fast and too high on the track. Fault on both parties and no charges are likely to ever be filed and shouldn't. Tony had been making split second decisions all night and this one was just a bad one. His temper is well noted, but again he didn't mean to hit him just maybe throw a little dirt his way.

My thoughts are with the Ward family and for Tony Stewart. The Ward family has lost a member and Tony will live with this for the rest of his life. It's likely to cost him almost everything he has. It did cost Ward everything he had.
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Stewart might not have been on the bottom of the track but he was low.

Low enough for the Kid to have to walk down from the wall to confront him.
 
americanwoman said:
I don't know much about racing and nascar but I just don't understand why the guy got out of his car.
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Ever seen one catch on fire?

I have. Depending on the fuel they're running, often times you can't see the flames.

You don't want to be strapped into a race car that's a sitting duck after it's been involved in a crash.
It's also a way to show your crew and family you're okay.
The first thing the emergency crews are going to do is get you out of car when they get there.
 
Fenton said:
The Yellow flag doesn't mean drivers can exit their cars and run straight into the middle of a turn to confront another driver.

The Yellow flag doesn't mean every car on the track is going to slow down like they've just driven into a school zone either.

The F1 driver Tom Pryce lost his life under a yellow flag condition when a track Marshall darted out infront of him.

Tom Pryce hit the Marshall with enough speed to kill both him and the kid instantly.

If you watch the video Stewart was moving at high speed through the corner and it was the Back Right tire that caught the kid.
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I never said any of the above.

I used to roadrace motorcycles. I know what yellow flags mean.

Please re-read what I said.
 
Fenton said:
The Yellow flag doesn't mean drivers can exit their cars and run straight into the middle of a turn to confront another driver.

The Yellow flag doesn't mean every car on the track is going to slow down like they've just driven into a school zone either.

The F1 driver Tom Pryce lost his life under a yellow flag condition when a track Marshall darted out infront of him.

Tom Pryce hit the Marshall with enough speed to kill both him and the kid instantly.

If you watch the video Stewart was moving at high speed through the corner and it was the Back Right tire that caught the kid.
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It sure seems like it would have been difficult to control the car. I'm really quite certain that Stewart had no intention to run him over.

He still bears some responsibility for it. I don't think I'd call for his career to be in serious jeopardy, and I don't really think he needs to go to jail, but there's some responsibility there.
 
Dragonfly said:
Ever seen one catch on fire?

I have. Depending on the fuel they're running, often times you can't see the flames.

You don't want to be strapped into a race car that's a sitting duck after it's been involved in a crash.
It's also a way to show your crew and family you're okay.
The first thing the emergency crews are going to do is get you out of car when they get there.
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Good points. But if all the cars are speeding past you, what's the best thing to do?
 
Leta not forget drag racing which is explosion propelling a vehicle top 300+ mph in four seconds. ALL racing is dangerous and some down right stupid. But it is loved world wide so get over it.
 
americanwoman said:
Good points. But if all the cars are speeding past you, what's the best thing to do?
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Get out of wrecked car. Move to outside of track (in this case). Wait for track emergency crews.

A stopped/wrecked car on a short track brings out a full course yellow flag.

The protocol for drivers still in race is to SAFELY slow down, no passing or racing allowed at that point, move down track (in this case), and provide room for crews to safely remove wreck.
It's possible ambulance, tow truck, and/or push vehicle would need to gain access to wreck.
 
rhinefire said:
Leta not forget drag racing which is explosion propelling a vehicle top 300+ mph in four seconds. ALL racing is dangerous and some down right stupid. But it is loved world wide so get over it.
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What's any of this got to do with anything???

Walking down stairs is dangerous.
 
Dragonfly said:
Ever seen one catch on fire?

I have. Depending on the fuel they're running, often times you can't see the flames.

You don't want to be strapped into a race car that's a sitting duck after it's been involved in a crash.
It's also a way to show your crew and family you're okay.
The first thing the emergency crews are going to do is get you out of car when they get there.
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That isn't advisable even on asphalt, let alone a dirt track.

If you aren't on fire you sit in the car and wait for the emergency crew.
 
Dragonfly said:
I never said any of the above.

I used to roadrace motorcycles. I know what yellow flags mean.

Please re-read what I said.
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I read it.

You said that because of the yellow flag Stewart had enough control to avoid the kid.

Google Tom Pryce.

He was a F1 driver who lost his life when a he hit a Track Marshal who had raced out onto the track under a yellow flag condition.

Or you could just watch the video of Stewart hitting the kid.
 
Dragonfly said:
Ever seen one catch on fire?

I have. Depending on the fuel they're running, often times you can't see the flames.

You don't want to be strapped into a race car that's a sitting duck after it's been involved in a crash.
It's also a way to show your crew and family you're okay.
The first thing the emergency crews are going to do is get you out of car when they get there.
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That's Methanol, which is used in Indy Cars because it remaims stable under extremely high compression ratios.

Not Sprint Cars or Top Fuel Dragsters.

Yes the Flames can be " invisible " and are hotter than flames from other types of fuel.
 
I've got to tell you, I've watched the youtube video now (I hadn't before). One thing that catches me is that you hear an engine revving just before Stewart hit him. Not sure if the two things are connected, but he was not travelling fast at the time of the crash. He didn't seem to lose control of the car, and other drivers were able to avoid hitting the other driver before Stewart was apparently unable to.

That is strange. I wonder if he was trying to pass close to him and misjudged? In which case...definitely culpable even if he didn't intend to hit him.
 
rocket88 said:
I've got to tell you, I've watched the youtube video now (I hadn't before). One thing that catches me is that you hear an engine revving just before Stewart hit him. Not sure if the two things are connected, but he was not travelling fast at the time of the crash. He didn't seem to lose control of the car, and other drivers were able to avoid hitting the other driver before Stewart was apparently unable to.

That is strange. I wonder if he was trying to pass close to him and misjudged? In which case...definitely culpable even if he didn't intend to hit him.
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Some fans reported that Stewart sped up prior to hitting the other driver
 
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This slow motion video supposedly shows that Stewart was on the brakes when he made contact with Ward. The quality is too low for me to tell on my monitor.

 
azgreg said:
This slow motion video supposedly shows that Stewart was on the brakes when he made contact with Ward. The quality is too low for me to tell on my monitor.

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Yea, I don't think for a minute Stewart meant to hit that kid.
 
Fenton said:
Stewart might not have been on the bottom of the track but he was low.

Low enough for the Kid to have to walk down from the wall to confront him.
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I agree Ward came down too far. He could have got his point across further up the track standing by his car. That was the mistake he made. Tony made the mistake of going up the track to make a point. My opinion of course.
 
Dragonfly said:
Ever seen one catch on fire?

I have. Depending on the fuel they're running, often times you can't see the flames.

You don't want to be strapped into a race car that's a sitting duck after it's been involved in a crash.
It's also a way to show your crew and family you're okay.
The first thing the emergency crews are going to do is get you out of car when they get there.
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I have and let me tell you, you can't get out of there fast enough. Especially if its on fire and you are still moving. The flames and smoke are in your face and it's hard to breathe. Only thing you can think of is get out even if the car is still moving, even if the other cars are still moving.

I don't blame Ward for getting out of the car. I do blame him for getting that close to moving cars.
 
Dirt Racer said:
I have and let me tell you, you can't get out of there fast enough. Especially if its on fire and you are still moving. The flames and smoke are in your face and it's hard to breathe. Only thing you can think of is get out even if the car is still moving, even if the other cars are still moving.

I don't blame Ward for getting out of the car. I do blame him for getting that close to moving cars.
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When I drove dirt track stock cars many years ago I used to practice getting out of the car both sides with a painted face shield on my helmet.
 
azgreg said:
When I drove dirt track stock cars many years ago I used to practice getting out of the car both sides with a painted face shield on my helmet.
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That's a good thing to practice as if the car goes over the roof can crush down on either side Additionally if it rolls on its side your not getting out that way. Our modifieds are almost impossible to get out the passenger side due to the cockpit being pretty much wrapped around you on the right side. It is pretty much level with my shoulder. Only way out is drivers side window or maybe scramble out the back.
 
Dirt Racer said:
That's a good thing to practice as if the car goes over the roof can crush down on either side Additionally if it rolls on its side your not getting out that way. Our modifieds are almost impossible to get out the passenger side due to the cockpit being pretty much wrapped around you on the right side. It is pretty much level with my shoulder. Only way out is drivers side window or maybe scramble out the back.
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My car was kinda like a limited late model with a tinned in interior. The only thing Chevy made on my car was the body shell, front clip, engine block, and transmission case.
 
I am totally drop jawed that folks think that he was intentionally hit. Good Lord, he got out of his car and walked into the track with cars zooming by....he continues to walk into traffic and apparently is pointing his finger. Cripes, he had a death wish!!!!!
 
azgreg said:
My car was kinda like a limited late model with a tinned in interior. The only thing Chevy made on my car was the body shell, front clip, engine block, and transmission case.
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Nothing on our cars are made by any mfg anymore. Block and everything is aftermarket.
 
After watching the slow motion clip I think that Kevin went down on the track to confront Tony and let him know how pissed he was. The front tires are a lot smaller than the back and don't stick out as far. I think Kevin was using the front tire to judge how close he should get and didn't take into account how far out the back tire protrudes from the vehicle. I didn't see the back move towards Kevin like I have seen some folks say. The back of the car went right after Kevin was under the tire. It is hard to see that unless you watch the slow motion version. I think Kevin just screwed up.

Stewart's race team will take a hit for this regardless of the legal ramifications. There is the emotional side and it will deter sponsors from picking up Stewart Hass Racing. Tony is out spoken and tells it like he sees it. That makes him a "hot head". This will come up for years.

Kevin was not thinking about fire. He was thinking about Tony wrecking him.
 
SMTA said:
It is a dirt race track, not a sidewalk.

And you believe that Stewart hit him on purpose?

What's next, murder on the PGA tour?
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The caution flag was out for over a lap. Other drivers made it to the bottom of the track. I am only commenting on what I saw. I fell any lawyer could get involuntary manslaughter conviction on this.
 
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