IndyCar: Crazy crash

Steve · Sep 4, 2011

This happened on the new Baltimore street circuit today. Read the story before watching the video.

De Silvestro Leads Crash-Filled Morning Warmup (auto-racing.speedtv.com)

Simona de Silvestro led Sunday's pre-race warmup in Baltimore, but it was Tony Kanaan's brake failure and big crash that made the headlines.

Marshall Pruett | Posted September 04, 2011
The 30-minute session delivered just four laps of action as the result of two crashes, with Kanaan's harrowing Turn 1 crash bringing out the first red flag.

“The brake pedal went to the floor," Kanaan told SPEED's Robin Miller. "I wasn’t sure who was ahead of me, but he was going to slow me down."

With no brakes at the end of the 170 mph front stright, Kanaan relied on one of his best friends, Team Penske's Helio Castroneves, to slow his GEICO-sponsored car before striking the barriers.

Turning left as the corner approached, Kanaan intentionally steered his car into the side of Castroneves, launching the KV Racing car high into the air and scrubbing off speed.

"I did a track walk last night and saw that on the right side in Turn 1, there's some tires in front of a cement wall on the right, and on the left, there's an opening and then some tires--no cement wall. So I steered left... It probably saved my life."

After the crash, Kanaan was concerned Castroneves would be upset, and explained his rationale.

"I told him, 'hey brother, sorry, I had to use you to slow me down,' and he understood."

Castroneves was thankful his former Firestone Indy Lights teammates was unhurt.

"Fortunately, I'm OK and Tony is OK," he said. "He hit my [car] from the back and was flying over me, which was really concerning because I saw him fly over me and hit the wall in a very awkward position, so I was concerned, but when I saw him get out of the car and he was very alert, I was glad he was OK. Absolutely everything will be fine for the race. We're going with the spare car because we don't have time to fix the primary car."

KV Racing co-owner Jimmy Vasser told SPEED.com the team was evaluating whether Kanaan's car can be repaired in time for the race, and the team later confirmed it would go to a backup car. INDYCAR also told the team Kanaan would retain his 11th-place starting position.
Click to expand...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hNZmxHcCq0]Tony Kanaan and Helio Crash at Baltimore - YouTube[/ame]

lotsie · Sep 4, 2011

WOW:eek6: Probably a couple of soiled race suits after that one. Glad to see nobody was hurt.

Mark

Rae · Sep 4, 2011

Yeah, and the workers on the track too! Yikes!

Crashton · Sep 4, 2011

Wow there are a 3 lucky people there. Too close for all involved. That corner worker came way too close to losing it all. I'd say that track walk saved Tony's life.

Justa Jim · Sep 4, 2011

I couldn't tell for sure, but were they using the Jones Falls Expressway (I-83 extended)?

Jim

Steve · Sep 4, 2011

jbewley said: ↑

I couldn't tell for sure, but were they using the Jones Falls Expressway (I-83 extended)?

Jim
Click to expand...

Here's the track map.

Justa Jim · Sep 4, 2011

Thanks Steve. That is right down town, so I guess they had to build a bunch of walls. Sure looked like the Jones Falls.

Jim

Forums

IndyCar: Crazy crash

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

lotsie Club Coordinator

Rae Club Coordinator

Crashton Club Coordinator

Justa Jim Well-Known Member
Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Justa Jim Well-Known Member
Lifetime Supporter

Share This Page

Useful Searches

IndyCar: Crazy crash

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

lotsie Club Coordinator

Rae Club Coordinator

Crashton Club Coordinator

Justa Jim Well-Known Member Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Justa Jim Well-Known Member Lifetime Supporter

Share This Page

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Justa Jim Well-Known Member
Lifetime Supporter

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Justa Jim Well-Known Member
Lifetime Supporter