Wilson was struck in the head by debris from a car that crashed ahead of him, driven by Sage Karam.
Former and current drivers have called on IndyCar officials to review safety equipment in place after racer Justin Wilson died Monday from injuries suffered Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Reuters is reporting.
Wilson was struck in the head by debris from a car that crashed ahead of him, driven by Sage Karam. The incident was similar to accidents in other race series with open cockpits; Felipe Massa was hit by debris in Hungary in 2009 and required surgery, James Hinchcliffe was struck in the head in 2014, which caused a concussion. Wilson’s death was the first for IndyCar since Dan Wheldon was killed in 2011.
“Safety is not one of those things that because you have a clear record for a certain amount of time that you stop doing development,” former race driver Eddie Cheever told ESPN.
Many in the sport have called for further face protection, including a canopy or guard in front of the driver’s face to deflect debris. IndyCar officials said removing the driver from a cockpit was a key concern in adding anything that might cover the driver’s head.
“It is being considered; it’s been on my radar ever since I came to IndyCar,” Derrick Walker, who is president of the series, told Racer in 2014.
“I’ve had discussions with Dallara about trying to design a partial canopy – not a fully enclosed, but a partial one that would serve as a deflector for debris that comes at the driver.”
Walker later said that a deflector would be a fit for the series.
“Getting out of the car as quickly as possible is the first priority, so a front deflector section seems to be a logical step,†Walker said.
Racing veterans have suggested other alternatives, including latching components to the car in event of a crash.
“The next thing, I think perhaps, they should have a tether on something that’s so detachable as a nose,” Mario Andretti told ESPN. “There is a quick disconnect on the nose so they can change it quickly. Maybe they should have a tether on there.”
Safety advocates may also direct their concerns toward the type of track that Wheldon and Wilson raced on. Banked ovals like the one Wilson was racing on are particularly dangerous because of the speeds involved. Wheldon was killed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is also a banked oval.
“We’re always looking at ways to make this sport safer,” Wilson’s teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay said immediately after the race, according to Reuters.
“First we had the innovation with the safer barrier. Oval tracks in general, we need to start looking into the next 20 years, maybe making the walls a little bit higher. Maybe coming up with something a little bit better than just mesh fencing and poles.”