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Originally Posted by GH85Carrera
The Sky F1 coverage after the race went to the scene of the accident. They showed the skid marks that lead into the barrier. It really was at a 45 degree angle or so, it was not a 90 degree wall. I bet next week they will have tires or some sort of softer impact absorbing barrier in front of the concrete wall that is there now.
There are three aluminum beams all bolted together and the impact smashed the front half of his F1 car through the beams.
No doubt the seat belts harness, the Hans Device, and the Halo saved his life. At 50 Gs his spine would have snapped like the much lighter Dale Earnhardt crash. The seat belt harness held him in place and he was able to GTFO of there in short order. If he had been knocked out he likely would have roasted to death. The visor on his helmet was partially melted. I hope he gets that helmet back as a keepsake of his F1 career.
They also said the FIA will do a full investigation with the remains of the car, and reconstruct it, just like the FAA does for aircraft. The will look at every component, and try to determine just what worked and what failed. Then they will make changes to the rules to make the cars safer.
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Barely 20º but the violence was the same. 3 sections of Armco not being tied together vertically will be examined. Foam blocks would have helped a lot. Goes to show that every little thing doesn't get the same scrutiny until some bizarre event.
Greg Moore was mentioned and that wall was moved at CA Speedway after his death. Denny Hamlin hit a wall dead on over of the opposite side of the track near the pit entrance road and a long way from the racing surface and they covered it with 'soft wall' blocks. Every oval track has this same wall and every one has been tagged at one point.