Sorry for the double post. Just realized it was posted already.


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/st...=la-news-state

 

Oh great. A fine thing to read right before my first track day. Glad my wife stays off this board! LOL!

 

You will be fine

 

There are tons of rumors flying around on boards everywhere about this topic. The ones I have read were arguing that the crash was caused by an event worker send another car onto the track from pit road right in front of the Porsche. This was not heard from a credible source though.

 

I heard the same thing. Very sad story nevertheless.

 

I have read the Ferrari was waved out and joined in the fast lane causing the Porsche to try and avoid him.

 

There really is a lot of specualtion about this accident. As with most tragic incidents, it seems a series of mistakes all happended in succession causing the accident. Hopefully, someone who witnessed the accident will come forward and the full story will come out, but until then, here's what I've heard, from a fairly reliable source:

Mistake #1) The Porsche took an extra lap after the run group was checkered
Mistake #2) One of the event organizers was working pit out and did not know he was on track. As he was about to let the next group out of the pits, he realized the Porsche was on track (here's where it gets iffy)
Mistake #3) He tried to send him out quickly, but then changed his mind - but not before the car started out just as the GT was coming down the straight.
Mistake #4) Not only was the Porsche on track at the wrong time, he was also on the wrong side of the track. The oval was not in use, so the pit out (sounds like) is basically a cut-through onto a small straight (ie no 'on ramp') from the left, so drivers were told to stay track right... the Porsche did not and when the other car started to come out, it appears the driver of the Porsche either got spooked and lifted/braked in such a way as to upset the car, or he had to evade the entering car causing the same result

Below is a link to some news helicopter footage after the accident - you can clearly see a jersey barrier completely knocked over and at least two others moved from their foundations. The camera also pans along the skid marks leading off the track and through the grass... you really get a sickening sense of how far this car slid and then broad-sided the jersey barriers

Contrary to some reports, the car never flipped, or landed on the barriers (this video proves it). It amazes me the car is even recognizable. Also note that there is absolutely no protection against the jersey barriers... no tire wall in front, no foam blocks, etc.

It is truly tragic - and we'll probably never know what actually happened unless someone, somewhere was video-taping as it happened

Check this out:
http://mysite.verizon.net/res7weom/carrera.mpg