Changes coming to Watkins Glen

[TexasRaceLady]

http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/sto...ent-says-safety-changes-are-on-the-way-082014

"Printup indicated after that after the race at The Glen, he flew to International Speedway Corp. headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla., and spent three days working with ISC president John Saunders and the design team to address the issue.

"We'll get the University of Nebraska up there, we'll get NASCAR up there, we're going to evaluate everything we can," he said. "We'll do whatever we need to do to make sure it is the safest track we can."

While driver input is always a valuable resource when looking at safety innovations, Printup indicated they have to marry that up with the University of Nebraska safety experts, and let them take the lead."

 

[FLRacingFan]

I wouldn't want to be in their position right now; they have their work cut out for them. There's a whole lot to consider.

 

[PushRodV8]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[BOWTIE GUY]

you can only make things so safe. racing is as safe as it has ever been. we deal with this at work everyday, sometimes we're so safe we can't work.

 

[TexasRaceLady]

you can only make things so safe. racing is as safe as it has ever been. we deal with this at work everyday, sometimes we're so safe we can't work.

True, but when there has been a series of really bad wrecks in that one particular section of track, maybe something needs to be changed.

 

[Speedbowl14]

you can only make things so safe. racing is as safe as it has ever been. we deal with this at work everyday, sometimes we're so safe we can't work.

You could make it 10x safer by having guard rail more than 10 feet from the freaking track. Fix the esses, and the bridges. That's where the armco is right on top of the track.

 

[FLRacingFan]

You could make it 10x safer by having guard rail more than 10 feet from the freaking track. Fix the esses, and the bridges. That's where the armco is right on top of the track.

I'm sure it's not that easy to just fix the infield tunnels.

 

[dpkimmel2001]

They've done a lot with safety over the many years that we've attended races there. I'm sure that trend will continue. They'll do what they have to do to keep up with the times.

 

[StandOnIt]

Might help if they quit playing bumper cars. Some of the hazards are from bad judgements and stupid driving

 

[dpkimmel2001]

Yeah. Some things never change.

 

[sdj]

I heard Newman say concrete walls and the safer barrier.

If Jimmy Johnson had hit a safer barrier with a concrete wall behind it, in that Nationwide race a few years ago, he would have died on the spot. The rubber tires really really have worked at this track.

As far as where the bottle neck is, where Neman had his snafu, they need to extend the tunnel length and widen the runoff area at that location.

 

[Wingnutcnc]

Might help if they quit playing bumper cars. Some of the hazards are from bad judgements and stupid driving

^^^^ All this and a little taste of sweet revenge.

 

[StandOnIt]

I heard Newman say concrete walls and the safer barrier.

If Jimmy Johnson had hit a safer barrier with a concrete wall behind it, in that Nationwide race a few years ago, he would have died on the spot. The rubber tires really really have worked at this track.

As far as where the bottle neck is, where Neman had his snafu, they need to extend the tunnel length and widen the runoff area at that location.

this was after Newman caused a wreck in a place on the track where passing is almost impossible. yeah I get it about safety, but use your head, three wide in a corner and you are trying to force your way thru there.

 

[TexasRaceLady]

Thing is Newman didn't create the wreck. Biffle did when he went way too wide and cut across Ryan's nose, slowing in the process to get the car under control.

 

[StandOnIt]

we could go round an round forever, Newman made it three wide into the turn to start with. notice Biffle didn't wreck because he was hit in the rear of the car following all the rest of the cars going to the other side of the track, but not ol newman, he was on the inside of the corner and tried to force his way in.

 

[DanicaFreak]

Who can say more safety is wrong?

 

[StandOnIt]

Who can say more safety is wrong?

not me, but stuffing your car into dangerous areas for any driver isn't safety. I come from an era when they had telephone poles right beside the track, curbs around corners. In order to stay alive it is a good idea to pick good spots to pass. Watkins Glenn has plenty of places to pass and to press another driver. that place isn't one of them.

 

[DanicaFreak]

not me, but stuffing your car into dangerous areas for any driver isn't safety. I come from an era when they had telephone poles right beside the track, curbs around corners. In order to stay alive it is a good idea to pick good spots to pass. Watkins Glenn has plenty of places to pass and to press another driver. that place isn't one of them.

Good point--drivers just arent patient anymore.

 

[StandOnIt]

some drivers aren't, you don't get to be a old timer by making dumb moves, but with all the safety barriers and safer tracks, some drivers are taking advantage of that and then acting indignant when the off track isn't like a soft marshmellow everywhere. That track has miles of guardrails and plenty of safe areas, but sure there can always be improvements, but saying that all the aramco barriers need to be replaced and acting like the track is a death trap, I don't agree with Newman's assessment.

 

[Bucky Badger]

I always thought it was stupid to remove the gravel pits