[windowlicker]

Christian Fittipaldi's nasty crash at the Surfer's Paradise CART race in 1997 which resulted in a broken leg. Christian took part in 43 races, scoring 12 points, with a best result of 4th. He was F3000 Champion in 1991 and won two CART races.

[windowlicker]

Christian Fittipaldi crashes into the back of his Minardi team-mate Pierluigi Martini as they cross the line at the finish of the Italian GP 1993. They were classified in 7th and 8th places.

[Davinche14]

So the Yokoyama accident presumably happened in a similar set of circumstances? Still amazes me to this day. Great post btw

[AlvinKarpis]

Jim Malloy 1972 Indy 500

Fatal

Rare alternate angle that really shows the speed of the impact

Also I included the well know footage with slow motion of the impact at the end

RIP Jim

[jeremycrpntr]

Originally Posted by cortdb ↗

i dunno man. it looked to me like earnhardt just held his line into the corner. guess other guy expected him to lift throttle....earnhardt shouldve probably given a little room since he was 100% passed at that point but then again blaise( if i remember his name correctly) should have made damn sure he was clear to move over. you have to take into consideration it was 4 laps left in the race and you know how that goes

No offense, but I enjoy hearing ppls opinions that really don't know a whole lot or have never been behind the wheel of a race car. It is very easy to see, as they entered the dog-leg, Blaise was just making the corner. He never came down. Earnhardt intentionally turned his fender into him, and made contact and held contact for 4 or 5 seconds. U don't stay on a guy for that long, unless ur meaning to...
Once again, no offense meant in what I said.

[jeremycrpntr]

Originally Posted by The Dark ↗

Little harsh there Jeremy I feel, from what I've read & seen it appears Earnhardt got a little loose - possibly from the aerodynamic effect of Alexander being alongside - and as they were so close as the rear came round it took him down into the side of the car.

I certainly wasn't intentional a la Carl Edwards or Jeff Gordon's recent "removals" so I think it's important to try and separate the tragic element from the racing element and see what we think.

However, as we have differing views on the Indy 500 finish last year, we may well disagree on this one as well! Such is the way opinions get formed

Well, I have the ability as a driver myself, to put myself inside the car sometimes. U have a different view of things when u, urself have been in that exact situation. Reference the above comment. I never did like Earnhardt. He'd wreck his own mother to win a race, and it was "racing" in his eyes. If someone laid a bumper on him though they were a piece of shit... It is very easy to tell in both these situations that these guys were wrecked. There is a pedal on the far right, that if Kerry had eased off of it just a bit, he no longer would have been in contact with Blaise, which would not have killed this young man this evening. He stayed in the throttle and shoved him around. Earnhardts car never bobbles or any of the excuses u are making for him, before contact. He just gets into him and never lifted!

[Davinche14]

Originally Posted by jeremycrpntr ↗

Well, I have the ability as a driver myself, to put myself inside the car sometimes. U have a different view of things when u, urself have been in that exact situation. Reference the above comment. I never did like Earnhardt. He'd wreck his own mother to win a race, and it was "racing" in his eyes. If someone laid a bumper on him though they were a piece of shit... It is very easy to tell in both these situations that these guys were wrecked. There is a pedal on the far right, that if Kerry had eased off of it just a bit, he no longer would have been in contact with Blaise, which would not have killed this young man this evening. He stayed in the throttle and shoved him around. Earnhardts car never bobbles or any of the excuses u are making for him, before contact. He just gets into him and never lifted!

have to agree with you there. Although the closest I've done to racing is go karting... Same rules apply. 9/10 times you know if there will be contact. The speeds I will go at, you knock someone's tail out and the fall down a few places. In NASCAR, the consequences of that contact could be death. Earnhardt of all people will/should know that, as I expect ALL professional drivers to know that. However, because of the 'human' element to such incidents, in the heat of the moment, with the wanton desire to win, wrong decisions can easily be made. Either way, a sad yet avoidable outcome!

[windowlicker]

Originally Posted by Davinche14 ↗

So the Yokoyama accident presumably happened in a similar set of circumstances? Still amazes me to this day. Great post btw

Yokoyama failed to notice cars slowing for a yellow flag, Martini eased off as he went over the finish line not realising Fittipaldi was as close as he was...

[The Dark]

The Martini/Fittipaldi crash is almost the same as the Franchitti/Yasakawa crash at Kansas back in 2007? Dario was of course extremely lucky to hit the wall at the angle he did, and admitted it was 100% his fault. I think that crash and his airborne monster crash at Michigan 1 week prior played a big part in his short-lived jump into Nascar.

Worth checking out the video if it turns up, the in-car shot is amazing!

[Davinche14]

Originally Posted by windowlicker ↗

Yokoyama failed to notice cars slowing for a yellow flag, Martini eased off as he went over the finish line not realising Fittipaldi was as close as he was...

Sorry, should have worded that better. I meant the wheel to wheel contact causing the car to flip into the air. would love to see live footage of Fuji 1997 showing the impact etc. I know how it could happen, but the sheer height just baffles me!?!