Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 24, 1995 TAG: 9507240112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLADEGA, ALA. LENGTH: Long
After 18 months without any disastrous flip wrecks, there were three in two days.
In Saturday's Grand National race, which already has gained distinction as one of the most infamous races in the series' history, Randy LaJoie demonstrated that a driver doesn't need to spin to get upside down. LaJoie used another car as a launching pad to begin his rolling crash.
But the one that concerned NASCAR officials more was Ward Burton's flip early in the Saturday event. He spun, and his roof flaps popped up on schedule to prevent a flip. But the car flipped on its roof anyway, triggering a melee that involved a dozen other cars.
Long after the checkered flag fell Saturday, Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson, a couple of other NASCAR inspectors and Hendrick Motorsports engineer Gary Eaker, an aerodynamics expert, spent more than an hour on the track trying to learn more about why Burton flipped.
``The crash was a worst-case scenario'' for the roof flaps, NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett said.
Nelson and the others examined the path of the accident foot by foot, using a Ford Taurus to help simulate the position of Burton's car.
``My opinion is that because the front of the car was on the apron and the back of it was on the banking, that contributed largely to the accident yesterday,'' Nelson said. ``I'd like to think of it as a freak thing under unusual circumstances.''
A Grand National car normally has 3.5 inches of ground clearance. But Nelson said Saturday's investigation showed that there was seven inches of clearance under the middle of Burton's car when it was half on the banking and half on the apron.
``And today, my assumption is that another car that kind of shoveled Schrader up'' after he spun, Nelson said.
In other words, Schrader's crash Sunday was another worst-case scenario for the roof flaps.
NASCAR President Bill France pointed out Sunday that ``we had about five more spins during the day and all the flaps deployed as scheduled.''
Nonetheless, everyone remains concerned about the flips. Nelson said he already has examined some suggested improvements and is willing to look at any new suggestions.
``We had a project to try to get the flaps open sooner with side vents,'' he said. ``We spent 10 months trying to get them to open sooner, and we couldn't do it.''
What about larger flaps?
``They'd have to be really huge to make a difference,'' he said.
GORDON UPSET ABOUT CRASH: If Ken Schrader's crash was a worst-case scenario for NASCAR's roof flaps, it was also a worst-case scenario for Jeff Gordon's psyche.
``I know it was an accident, but, man, I feel awful,'' Gordon told his team on the radio during the ensuing caution period.
Gordon finished the race in eighth place and said afterward, ``I can't apologize enough to Kenny. You know I'd never do that to my teammate. He means a lot to me. Somebody got on the outside of me and I got loose and got into him a little bit.
``I never felt so bad in a race car after getting into somebody, especially my teammate, who I respect a lot. He was having a good run, and he's had enough bad luck. He didn't need to have any more caused by me. It was tough'' to keep going.
OTHER DRIVERS INVOLVED: Besides Schrader, other drivers involved in the big crash were Ricky Craven, Lake Speed, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Terry Labonte, Elton Sawyer, John Andretti, Chuck Bown, Todd Bodine, Robert Pressley and Bobby Labonte, who crawled out of his wrecked car, sat on the roof for a moment, then shook his finger at Gordon when Gordon slowly passed by the wreck on the next lap.
PARTED WATERS FOR PETTY: Kyle Petty started 41st, but he finished sixth with the help of higher powers, passing car after car early in the race.
``I don't know how I got through there,'' he said. ``It was like God parting the seas. They just pulled out of the way. It was really amazing. I'd pick a high line and they'd go low. I'd pick a low line and they'd go high. It really wasn't like I tried to pass anybody that hard.''
SPEEDING TICKET FOR MAST: A stop-and-go penalty for speeding on pit road put Rick Mast one lap down and killed his chances for a good finish.
The Rockbridge Baths, Va., driver and his team hotly denied he was speeding.
``They either picked the wrong car up or somebody's got it out for me,'' Mast said. ``There wasn't even a question. It wasn't even close. I don't know if they picked out the wrong car or what. But I know one thing. It cost me. That was the best superspeedway car we've ever had. We finally got up to the lead pack, pitted and then that [penalty] ended the day.''
Mast finished 17th, one lap down.
REISER IMPROVING: Grand National driver Robbie Reiser, who suffered a head injury in Saturday's Grand National race, remains hospitalized in Birmingham.
``He's doing much better,'' said a hospital spokesman. ``We've moved him out of intensive care and off the ventilator. He's breathing on his own. My estimation is he will be held a couple of more days. The doctor has not made a decision yet.''
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB