Two questions. What was the red flashing light on the rear of the cars that were spinning around and did the one car actually do a "wheelie"? Don't think I've seen that before.
The cars with the flashing lights are F1 cars. They're used only when it's raining to aid visibility for anyone approaching from the rear through the rooster tail of spray. I think the wheelie was also an F1 car. Had enough momentum cresting that hill to lift the car enough to screw up the downforce and then the air got under the car and it turned into a kite...of sorts.
The flashing lights on the F1 cars is the mandatory rain light. It is req'd to flash on when in rainy conditions to help the cars behind you to see you.
And the one F1 car that did the wheelie simply got air under the front of the car and flipped. Has happened a few times at LeMans and they even had to modify Lime Rock Park raceway a few years ago cause some of the cars were doing the same thing.
Several cars have done the "wheelie" over the hills on the course.
Alot of the F1 footage shows mechanical components failing.
The Ring has always been dangerous but it is a true road race circuit.
So many courses now are designed around a central stadium.
A true road race course uses the terrain as a design of the course.
Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, VIR, Mid Ohio are great natural circuits.
Though with the word circuit in there, some folk would argue it's not true road racing.
Drifting off topic, but starting this week is the 100th anniversary of motorcycle road racing on the Isle of Man (off Britain) - these roads are reopened as public highways an hour after the racing. Nearly 200mph on narrow, very bumpy roads lined with stone walls and lampposts makes the Nurburgring look like a kiddies' playground. I think I've posted it before but here is a laconic Brit describing the on-bike video from his bike: GUY MARTIN TT Isle of Man Lap on-board - en-bike - Motorcycle Video Share Portal
Thanks, Steve & Scott. The flashing light seems like a good idea considering the roster tail kicked up.That wheelie just looked scary, as there was nothing that they could do, other then deploy 3/4 flaps.
The TT has just given us an example of why it's dangerous. This rider was partly blinded by the sun, with lots of squashed flies on his visor and thought he was passing a slower rider in front of the pits. In fact he was 'passing' the divider to the pits and then travelled through the pits at about 150mph. No-one came to any harm and the (otherwise sensible) rider wasn't penalised since the pit lane speed gun doesn't record speeds that high!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rhf6ymgT9w]YouTube - ISLE OF MAN TT 2011 PITLANE FAIL ALMOST CRASHED‏[/ame]
