Danica

[billy badd]

What a hit she took today. I don't think I've seen anyone hit like that and get out of the car by themselves. What a tribute to NASCAR for the soft walls and the safty measures within the car. I'll bet she won't feel so chipper tomorrow. billy

[Rick Anges]

That was a wicked lick...Danica wreck...

[fascar27]

I saw the whole thing and the races and all. Danica, WOW, I watch her hit that wall pretty well hard, and look what done to that car, and I watch her in the `in-car cam` of her `react`, the spotter called her after a bump from 43 car and say, `hang-on` the car went swing around before the infield wall, she let go the wheel and hold her head with her both hands, then crash full force sideway, front-end went up the air than down. then the car come to stop, she got out of a car like nothing happen. Billy, wanna give a shot to see what it like Danica`s car.

[egspeedway]

While I will concede that she had more time to prepare for her wreck than you get on a short track, there is a time to let go of the wheel to protect your thumbs and wrists. It also looked as if other than letting go of the wheel she did not appear to tense her body. We already knew she could drive it also appears she is quite skillful when it comes to wrecking. There was a very graphic lesson for those willing to look and learn.

[Benny The Mule]

You will also notice in the video she was braking hard until just before the impact. Smart move to relax and let go.

I have a broken wrist, ankle, a thumb and a finger to prove the WRONG way to do it.


Note: Not all of mine were from 1 incident.

[BayRat50]

Danica & hands off wheel

I drove open wheel so time ago SCCA {noah was knee high} pulling your hands off
the wheel,up and out of the way of interior & exterior body panels { they can turn into large blades} & the steering wheel is the norm. She just reacted has she would in her Indy car..and your very correct,..it saves broken fingers etc.
Rick Mears is a local, I changed the way I built modified chassis after talking over chassis design with him,..and,...looking at his feet. His feet looked like a oened crazed chip hacked them with an axe....

[BayRat50]

Danica & hands off wheel

I drove open wheel some time ago SCCA {noah was knee high} pulling your hands off
the wheel,up and out of the way of interior & exterior body panels { they can turn into large blades} & the steering wheel is the norm. She just reacted has she would in her Indy car..and your very correct,..it saves broken fingers etc.

[Boneman]

Kudos to the racing brains working on safety in racing. Without the soft walls, HANS, full containment seat, etc.. just imagine how bad this could have been.

Worst case scenario: the sport loses its most marketable, promising and interesting driver in the first race of the year. NASCAR, and all of racing, would have been devastated.

Safe racing everyone! Go Danica!

[modracer22]

Really yall have to be kidding me all this over Danica... The guy in the truck race last night at Daytona hit the wall harder and nothing about him and how it could of been a lot worst? I'm sorry maybe the most marketable and interesting but sure not the most promisiing but like everything else this is my opinion and they are like a............ well you know the rest

[RSB]

You will also notice in the video she was braking hard until just before the impact. Smart move to relax and let go.

I have a broken wrist, ankle, a thumb and a finger to prove the WRONG way to do it.


Note: Not all of mine were from 1 incident.

Same here, Benny. One of my first cars had a manual box on it and I damn near broke my wrist just loading it on the trailer once when the front tire caught the fender. Since then I ALWAYS let go of the wheel before impact. Lord knows I had a few too!!