I don't think the wall is what caused the issue. The first hit into the wall looked okay with the safety system the walls have undergone since 2001. The issue is the hit to the driver side door/roof after he fell back on the track upside down and took a direct hit to the head area.
With the soft walls and the HANS which is required now, the worse part was Lajoie driving through the side window. I was thinking about 2001. I turned the tv off thinking that hit wasn't so bad, we'd all seen way worse. sjd
They had screens around Newmans car according to race attenders. Preparing for the worst unfortunately.
Dale's belt broke and he wasnt wearing a full face helmet, head came down sideways on the wheel. Hans device and safer barriers rectified that...unfortunately the last hit may have been the bad one.
Unofficial reports of serious injury. Take it with a grain of salt, there are some conflicting reports, nothing reliable yet.
He wasn't able to take the window net down himself, but if that news is saying he's at least alive I'll take that. That's better news than anything we've been told thus far.
I hate to say this but they loaded him in an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Not a good sign when they have helicopters standing buy. Doesn't look good.
Unofficial of course but praise GOD if this is true. Says a lot for the safety advances NASCAR has implemented. Image Unavailable, Please Login
This post said he was awake after the crash, but I'm always leery of early reports like these (most recently Kobe Bryant media statements early on). https://popculture.com/sports/2020/02/18/daytona-500-ryan-newman-taken-hospital-ambulance-following-crash/
I am watching this delayed. I just saw the sign off and Gordon was fighting back tears. Seriously trying not to lose it. The hit on the A-pillar and drivers door was brutal. I watched in slow-mo 20 times now and the damage is significant before the car flips over. Prayers for Newman. It looks bad.
FWIW, Halifax Hospital (closest ER) is less than two miles from the track. So ambulance ride with police escort is faster than helicopter.