Unlike berger, whose injuries were lessened by quick and efficient. The fire hazard kinda scares me with that and methanol burns invisable. It shows someone setting an invisible fire in a sink. Why fire is a racing drivers biggest fear motorsport retro. Last month, indy 500 winner dan wheldon took us through the mazda road to indy, driving us f2000, mazda star and indy lights cars explaining how this ladder system prepares drivers for the. Indycars unofficial iracing challenge points standings. Typically the chief mechanic, guides driver into pit stall. Top 10 indycar technologies business autos nbc news. The decision to permanently switch to methanol in american indycar racing was a result of the devastating crash and explosion at the 1964 indianapolis 500 which killed drivers eddie sachs and dave macdonald. The indycar series, currently known as the ntt indycar series under sponsorship, is the. Dario franchitti horrific crash amateur by nascarvideoarchive. I think this is something that will really change the complexion of the sport for a long time to come, so this is big. Indycar drivers stop in baltimore as preparation for grand prix continues.
It won in phoenix, the second race of the season driven by buddy lazier, but was off the pace. Indianapolis indycar driver scott brayton died from a fracture at the base of his skull, according to autopsy results released yesterday. In the 1950s to 70s it was a major threat where even moderate accidents were accompanied by deadly flames. Deadly may of 1973 still resonates at indianapolis motor speedway. Methanol burns with a transparent flame and no smoke, and panic gripped the pit as crew members and spectators fled from the invisible fire.
Methanol has been the standard choice in american open wheel racing since a firey crash at the 1964 indianapolis 500. The indycar series is the first in motorsports to use a renewable fuel, setting the trend for the greening of racing. The indycar series jump to ethanol has been great, said tony kanaan, the series 2004 champion. Fyi, ethanol is not the same as methanol hemmings daily. May of 1973 was deadliest month at indianapolis motor speedway since 1937. It was a practice day at the indianapolis motor speedway last may, and rolando coronado, chief mechanic for andretti autosport car 26, paced the pit. Ever since racing began, a drivers biggest fears involved the dreaded fire. Indycar drivers stop in baltimore as preparation for grand. The premier event was the 102nd indianapolis 500, with takuma sato entering as the defending indianapolis 500 winner.
Colton hertas indycar hauler catches fire on way to st. The mix of fuel, hot car parts and high speed was a recipe for disaster. Both of us have caught fire before, he said wednesday. Fuel the easiest way for indycar to leap toward the 900hp mark is through the sicklysweet smell of methanol. The tours include indycar series drivers and serve as an initiation for many consumers to an ethanolenriched product. Chembark blog archive methanol fires are invisible. Oct 22, 2006 fire breaks out in the forsythe pit area after aj allmendinger drives off while still connected to the fuelling rig at the gold coast indy 300, australia. Six months after horrific crash, indycar driver robert wickens is walking with assistance. I do not watch indycar races all that much, but i seen some pretty amazing crashes, and this playlist is full of them. This goes back into our racing past, in 1964 when there was a crash and a terrible fireball due to a ruptured fuel tank, early in the indy 500 and two prominent indycar drivers. With the irls introduction of night races in 1997, the burning of methanol fuel was visible for the first time, seen with a light blue haze. This bizarre video explains why people tend to avoid using. Material was added to the fuel so it would burn with a color.
A wreck in the 1964 indianapolis 500 was exacerbated by poor visibility from the thick black smoke produced during a gasoline fire. Indycar s e85 fuels competition, if not acceptance. With news of indycars return to richmond for the 2020 season, past races at the track are once again brought into focus. While i find the idea of an invisible fire to be a safety liability, it is interesting to note that the indy car circuit switched to neat methanol because it burns smokelessly. Mar 14, 2020 i do not watch indycar races all that much, but i seen some pretty amazing crashes, and this playlist is full of them.
We must continue to move forward with a thorough investigation, says randy bernard, ceo, indycar. May 28, 2006 ethanol boosters hoping for indy 500 win. Methanol fell out of use on the early 2000s as a fuel source for indycar teams as they eventually switched to e85 ethanol. The verizon indycar series is the premier level of american open. The invisible fire that talladega nights mocked really happened. Gold coast indy allmendinger methanol fire by aussie64. This familyfriendly event includes driver autograph sessions and the chance to walk on the legendary yard of bricks during the postrace track invasion. In the uk water is not used for methanol fires but see below. Well, in indy car races in the us somehow comparable to f1 you may see some of these words becoming a reality but with a lot of pain instead of love. Why do indy cars run on ethanol as opposed to pump fuel like. Indycar series simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Blinded by the burning methanol, several other drivers crashed into walthers car and each other. Fire breaks out in the forsythe pit area after aj allmendinger drives off while still connected to the fuelling rig at the gold coast indy 300. Indycar is currently postponed through may 9 when the series is scheduled to return to indianapolis. Indycar s engine builders reckon trading the lighter punch found in the e85 ethanol they use today for the more volatile delights of methanol will take care of almost half the 150hp theyre looking for. Indycar s e85 ethanol fuels competition, if not public. Ethanol is an american fuel that is good for the country and the environment, says ryan hunterreay, of rahal letterman racing and driver of the ethanol car. Six months after horrific crash, indycar driver robert. Drivers, the direct users of the fuel, voice their approval in glowing terms. In 1911 it was common practice for race cars to carry a driver and a copilot, the riding mechanic. In 2008, the indycar series merged with the champ car world series formerly cart. May 21, 20 may of 1973 was deadliest month at indianapolis motor speedway since 1937.
When one looks at north american racing today and looks at the vast influence held by both the izod indycar world championship series, one finds it hard to believe that at one time, the series leader and patriarch, anton hulman tony george, that him and the guys who ran the indycar world were on. David salt walther was a driver in the usac and cart championship car series. This bizarre video explains why people tend to avoid using methanol fuel. Indy 500 winner dan wheldon drives the usf2000star mazda. For refiners, the use of methanol allows for the expansion of gasoline supply over a greater number of vehicles, and the upgrading of regular gasoline to high premium grades by increasing octane. Helio castroneves littleknown flip at richmond posted by nascarman on september 3, 2019 viewed 1002 times tweet. Indy cars are currently fueled with a blend of 98% ethanol and 2% racing gasoline. All 17 races on the 2007 schedule, including the indianapolis 500, will be run on 100 percent fuelgrade ethanol. The indycar series opened its ethanolpowered season on march 24 under the lights at homesteadmiami speedway.
Methanol has been the standard choice in american open wheel racing since a fiery crash at the 1964 indianapolis 500. Nov 15, 2011 the drawback to using ethanol in race cars is the same is with using methanol, he tells epm. This includes the driver, who in a crash may have methanol spilled on his suit. Dry powder continues to be just as effective against the flames as it works by cooling the flames and to some extent and depending on the type of powder you use it interferes chemically with the burning reactions. Just in time for the 94th running of the indianapolis 500, out comes a racing tl. Driver takuma sato sat in the cockpit, shielded by a black umbrella. Brayton died from fracture at base of skull, autopsy shows. With a methanol fire, the flames are generally smaller and everyone can see the crash itself. Their driver probably received an invisible trophy. In the 15 years between 1947 and 1964, drivers were killed in the indianapolis 500 or while practicing for it. Firefighters guide to invisible fire otherwise known as. If you cant see the flames burning through the bodies of both drivers and crew, you dont. Given that the pit crew was engulfed by invisible flames, im guessing they were probably off their game for the rest of the race. When an indy car pulls into the pit with an engine fire, pit crews simply pour water on the racecar, and the driver gets back into the race see photos.
Thankfully, today, massive strides have been made in the fire safety area of the sport. Gmr grand prix get closer to the action at the gmr grand prix as the stars of the ntt indycar series take on the twists and turns of the ims road course. Except a big problem is that the fire is completely invisible. Why do indy cars run on ethanol as opposed to pump fuel.
If you are experiencing login problems for your account to read the epaper or local articles on, please call 18444661453 or email for assistance. Indy car refueling and methanol world sports intelligence. A series of performance fire tests were conducted on denatured ethyl alcohol, ethanol, 95% ethanol that was denatured with 5% gasoline and on gasohol defined by api as regular unleaded gasoline with up to 10% by volume ethyl alcohol. Hvm criticises safety crew over fire indycar autosport. When he turns the light off, you can see the fire, turn the light back on, flame disappears. Indycar is working on a twophase investigation of the crash. Indycar driver robert wickens has taken a big step in his recovery from a horrific crash at the pocono. Information on extinguishing ethanol fires link with plenty more info. Methanol fuel safety a practical guide then ignited when it contacted the engine.
Thats one of the main reasons why indycar switched to ethanol from methanol in 2007. And another 20 drivers were killed elsewhere racing indy carsor champ cars, as. When thats not the case, however, its extra carbon atoms cause it to burn with a yelloworange glow. Ethanol and methanol burn invisibly unless a 2 percent denaturant is added. Nov 03, 2010 given that the pit crew was engulfed by invisible flames, im guessing they were probably off their game for the rest of the race. Mears, on fire from the waist up, jumped out of his car and ran to the pit. Indycars e85 ethanol fuels competition, if not public. Mears, on fire from the waist up, jumped out of his car and ran to the pit wall, where a safety worker, not seeing the fire, tried to remove mears helmet. Safer at any speed featured articles from the latimes. The 48th international 500mile sweepstakes was held at the indianapolis motor speedway in speedway, indiana on saturday, may 30, 1964. Its a fuel change that some in the ethanol industry hope. It has, however, worked better for indycar than the fuel gambles. Indycar waited all the way up until 2006 to finally switch over to a 10%. May 20, 2016 fyi, ethanol is not the same as methanol.
Ethanol may have kept fatal indycar crash from being much. Behind the shadowy billiondollar payouts of f1, nascar, and indycar we take an indepth look at who makes the moneyand how muchin the worlds toptier racing series. How much are indycar drivers paid for the risks of racing. Only getting back into indycars for the first time in a long time, i was also shocked by the fire, i was thinking wait, isnt it methanol. Indycar series debuts 100 percent fuelgrade ethanol. Indycars adoption of e85 ethanol has not led to public acceptance of the fuel. Deadly may of 1973 still resonates at indianapolis motor.
Water methanol without tuning page 2 pelican parts forums. The most recent driver to be killed in an indycar series event was justin wilson at the 2015 abc supply 500. Dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide and alcoholresistant foam extinguish methanol fires by oxygen deprivation. Mears, on fire from the waist up, jumped out of his car and ran to the pit wall, where a safety worker, not seeing the fire. With this in mind, as a safety feature to make it more visible in case of fire during daylight hours, additional mixtures were placed in the fuel, so it would burn with a color. The switch from methanol based fuel to ethanol has amazed almost everyone in the league. This is a total industrychanging driver safety solution, indycar president jay frye said. In 2005, driver paul dana brought the sponsorship of the ethanol promotion and. The indycar series, currently known as the ntt indycar series under sponsorship, is the premier level of openwheel racing in north america. In 2005, driver paul dana brought the sponsorship of the ethanol promotion and information council epic to his indycar team. Methanol has several physical properties that make it an ideal transportation fuel. Takuma satos accident never should have been, that driver in the slow car should have been black flagged. People dont know that they are near a methanol fire until they feel the heat. The indycar series known as the verizon indycar series for sponsorship reasons is the premier level of american open wheel racing.
A methanol fire cannot be seen in daylight, which is a problem. No injuries were reported, but the status of colton hertas car for sundays indycar seasonopener in st. Unlike f1 cars, indy cars run on methanol and refueling during the races is allowed. Driver art pollard was killed in an accident during a practice.
When an indy car pulls into the pit with an engine. This includes the driver, who in a crash may have methanol spilled on his. Rolando coronado, indycar mechanic indianapolis monthly. Drivers ntt indycar series, indy lights, indy pro 2000. Open wheel motorsports have used neat methanol as a fuel for several. For the driver s championship, indycar tallies points based on each driver s finishing position, with the most points being awarded for finishing first. The invisible fire that talladega nights mocked really. Indycars engine builders reckon trading the lighter punch found in the e85 ethanol they use today for the more volatile delights of methanol. Its parent company began in 1996 as a competitor to cart known as the indy racing league irl which was created by then indianapolis motor speedway owner tony george. Indianapolis 500 when his methanolpowered car caught on fire and. A very famous portuguese poet once wrote that love is a fire that burns without being seen. Methanol, once known as wood alcohol, burns with a very pale blue. That was making light of one of the most terrifying fires that auto racing has.
Indy car racing had previously used methanol for more than 40 years. Danica was fighting that car from the jump, they never did get the setup working for her. Alot of indycar drivers were burned back when they ran methanol and they changed to e85 so you could see the fire if it happened. The 2018 verizon indycar series was the 23rd season of the verizon indycar series and the 97th official championship season of american open wheel racing. If a fire occurs on the track, there is no smoke to obstruct the view of fast approaching drivers. Its parent company began in 1996 as the indy racing league irl, which was created by then indianapolis motor speedway owner tony george as a competitor to cart. Indycar s adoption of e85 ethanol has not led to public acceptance of the fuel. As a safety feature, the methanol would burn with a color. The driver safety innovation encompassing the cockpit is comprised of a ballistic aeroscreen anchored by titanium framework. After the macdonaldsachs fire, in which both cars were loaded with gasoline, the united states auto club mandated that methanol, a less volatile fuel, be used exclusively. Fire breaks out in the forsythe pit area after aj allmendinger drives off while still connected to the fuelling rig at the gold coast indy 300, australia.
Gold coast indy allmendinger methanol fire youtube. For the next seven weeks, indycar drivers will fire up their computers and take to tracks in a digital world. The drawback to using ethanol in race cars is the same is with using methanol, he tells epm. The only significant problem with methanol is that it burns with an invisible flame you cannot see a methanol fire.