[AlanHo]

BBC Sport - Indy 500: Helio Castroneves survives spectacular crash

[Surferdude]

And another one today.

Josef Newgarden crashes in Indy 500 practice | USA TODAY Sports

[Wingerdave]

The "Suits" at the BBC have decided that i can't watch that in my region.

[Dazzler]

The "Suits" at the BBC have decided that i can't watch that in my region.

This one should play for you Dave...

Crash Helio Castroneves during Practice Indianapolis 500 Indy Car 2015 - YouTube

[Wingerdave]

Well, he did all he could (hands off the wheel) and was along for the ride. Amazing 

At least he kept the rubber side down.

[Dazzler]

Fairly amazing that they both walked away! Similar speeds and airtime as Senna's crash if I remember correctly! 

[Wingerdave]

Senna didn't really fly, he bottemed out and lost traction, went nose first into the wall and got the steering column in his head, if i remember right.

Barichello's flight (same weekend) was pretty awesome though. He cleared the barrier........

And Mark Webbers shunt in Valancia 2010 

[Johnno]

You would think by now they would come up with a better designed safety barrier since Dan Weldon's death

[Wingerdave]

You would think by now they would come up with a better designed safety barrier since Dan Weldon's death

Any ideas ? When you're going between 200 and 320 kph there's only one thing you can do..... Pray.

You could make the tracks larger with a 500m run off but that wouldn't please the crowds. Anyway, the American tracks are totally different to almost everywhere else (with the exception of street courses). Concrete walls work very well as far as containment is concerned.

[Dazzler]

At least they down use that cheese slicer wire that is used on many highways in Australia! 

[Wingerdave]

At least they down use that cheese slicer wire that is used on many highways in Australia! 

What's that? Picture for us foreigners?

[Shambles]

... cheese slicer wire ...

What's that? Picture for us foreigners?

Here ya go mate..

(click to show/hide)

Cheese:

Slicer:

Wire:

[Wingerdave]

Haha, very funny (not).

Guessing we'll never know, then. 

[FatBoy]

Here you go.

http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/contractor_images/guardrail/2-guardrail_2.jpg

[Surferdude]

Haha, very funny (not).

Guessing we'll never know, then. 

The last pic was it Dave.
They use wire like that, strung between posts on the roadside. Makes a right mess of motorcyclists especially. The tension is meant to absorb impacts from cars before they get too far off the road.

[Wingerdave]

They look useless and lethal. They tested those things in the 60's and they didn't work too well then.

As for motorcyclists its the posts that get most of them. There's talk here of covering the opening at the bottom of our (traditional) guard rails so that bikers can't slide under them or hit the posts. At the moment it's being tested on notorious black-spots.

[Dazzler]

Here you go.

http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/contractor_images/guardrail/2-guardrail_2.jpg

Thanks Jamie, I forgot to go back and post a picture!

[rustynutz]

They look useless and lethal. They tested those things in the 60's and they didn't work too well then.

The Netherlands actually banned them back in, I think 2006... 
Aussie Safetycrats, on the other hand continue to stick their fingers in their ears and chant we're not listening!!!
Meanwhile they are progressively appearing on just about every road that happens to have a tree or 2 alongside and are also used extensively to separate dual carriageways and Freeways... 

[Wingerdave]

They look useless and lethal. They tested those things in the 60's and they didn't work too well then.

The Netherlands actually banned them back in, I think 2006... 

I can honestly say that i have never seen those anywhere on the Motorways (Freeways, Highways, whatever...) since i came here in 1978

[rustynutz]

You're lucky then, Dave...most motorcyclists hate them with a passion... 

[Dazzler]

Another Indy prang today (guy got leg injuries)