Saturnalia wrote: ↑Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:44 pm
Garry K wrote: ↑Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:28 pm
Also, when a driver would be killed at an auto race, they continue the race after any fatal accident. But then again, folks are probably more used to deadly crashes while auto racing than while playing football.
On the contrary, most auto races involving a critical injury or fatality are then terminated.
I have watched auto racing since 1964, and I can not recall a single race that was ended early because of death or serious injury. Instead, the races might be red-flagged (stopped) to deal with the crash, then the race will resume. Some examples:
• In 1964, a fiery crash on the 2nd lap of the Indy 500 killed 2 drivers (Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs), but after a delay of less than 2 hours, the race was resumed. (
https://www.indystar.com/story/life/201 ... t/2318520/)
• The 1973 Indy 500 saw 2 drivers and a team mechanic killed, and while it took 3 days to complete the race, the delays were mostly caused by rain. (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Indianapolis_500)
• Bobby Allison was seriously injured at NASCAR's Winston 500 at Talladega in 1987. His car wiped out a long stretch of catch-fencing and injured several spectators. But after a 2.5 hour delay to repair the catch-fencing, racing resumed. (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Winston_500).
There are many more examples of races continuing after fatalities or bad crashes (Jim Clark, Niki Lauda, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, et al).
I don't want to sound insensitive or callous towards football players, drivers, boxers, etc, getting killed or seriously injured, but they are totally aware of the risks, and they willingly accept the risks in order to win fame and money. I was actually turned off of motor racing for a couple of years in the mid-1970s, especially after the "spectacle" at the 1973 Indy 500. But then I realized that if the drivers die in a crash, they are doing what they are wanting to do, so who am I to second-guess or mourn them? I also remember watching AJ Foyt (MIS) and Danny Ongais (Indy 500) crash in 1981, where they were partially out of their wrecked cars, thinking I was looking at dead men, although they both survived. But I rationalized, they knew what they were up against, so I did not grieve for them.
And then again, people have sympathy for an injured athlete, where they don't show the same sympathy for police officers, firefighters, iron workers, etc who are killed or injured in the line of duty.
Garry K