Fans injured at Daytona

Just seems like a really bad idea.

 

Not sure why. It's not like they're down there during the warm-up laps.

 

Ed Hinton explains:

espn.go.com/racing/nascar/nationwide/story/_/id/8978945/daytona-500-crashes-hurt-even-kill-fans-long-history-auto-racing

 

Yes, the gates are there for access to the track. A race track is a fan's wet dream before the race. Not just everyone gets to go shuffle around wherever they please. That's why you have "hot" and "cold" passes. Most of the sponsors get so many passes to hand out in the hospitality tents, etc. Back in the day when NASCAR and its drivers were honest to goodness people, the gates were opened again about 15-20 minutes after the race to the fans could get access to the drivers and pits. Now, 15-20 minutes after the race the drivers are already aboard or headed to their planes to get out of town.

 

And any driver in any race in the history of NASCAR has done the same. Tragic accident but this isn't the result of any driver negligence.

 

YouTube tells NASCAR to fuck off.:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/23/4022512/nascar-copyright-takedown-daytona

 

I agree.

The problem I've always had is when drivers deliberately cause others to crash. I know it's part of them policing themselves, but when they're using several tons of machinery and can put fans and the other drivers at risk, to me, it should be banned. Imagine if yesterday's incident would have come as a result of a driver settling a personal grudge?

We'd throw a fit if we found out an athlete in another sport deliberately tried to hurt another. Even pitchers brushing a hitter back isn't a real comparison, because fans aren't placed at risk.

 

Truth of the matter is that NASCAR loves this. Danger+sex symbol in prominence=big rating.

 

There is nothing a fan could do, short of smuggling in a jackhammer and banging away, that could have any kind of effect on the track for the race. There are spotters every few feet before and during the race and after the fans have access, before the warm-up laps start, they prep the track. This includes cleaning up any fluids and debris. They have sweeper trucks, jet-engine powered track dryers, traction compound, etc. The fans on the track before the race has no effect on the racing.

 

Just seems odd. You don't see fans running around on the playing field at the Super Bowl or the World Series before the game. Sidelines? Sure. But that's not the same thing.

 

Well there's a slight difference between running on grass and dirt, for destruction's sake, and walking on asphalt or concrete.

 

Take a look right now. There are probably 10K down on the track.