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March 3, 2008
Jeff Gordon’s Chevy Hits Wall, Pukes Out Half its Drivetrain
By Jen
Editor
Jeff Gordon—whose Nicorette Impala, despite the somewhat unconventional sponsorship package, was looking really spiffy in its new green-flame paintjob—took a freakin’ hard lick in the last five laps of the record-setting carnage at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the Sprint Cup race on Sunday afternoon. The wall he ran up against was the rock-solid infield wall, which doesn’t have any of the give of the Steel and Foam Energy-Reduction (SAFER) barrier that insulates the outside perimeter of the track from the grandstands. Gordon’s car disintegrated under the force of the brutal impact, throwing its hood into the windshield and spewing parts, sheet metal and fluids into the path of the oncoming pack, but luckily managing not to damage any other cars with its barrage of shrapnel. In the video, you can see the Impala’s whole radiator lying at least a hundred feet from the car after getting thrown free, and in a later interview, Gordon said he looked down after the crash and saw only a hole where the transmission used to be. Gordon was okay and relatively unruffled in the midst of a race where wall contact took out many of NASCAR’s big dogs—including Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart, who hobbled painfully away from his wrecked Toyota earlier in the race. The incident brings to mind the real challenge of track safety at speeds approaching 200 mph. While it’s easy to get caught up in the popular disdain for NASCAR’s stringent rules, and while I’m as fascinated by a big wreck as the next fan, it’s obviously no fun at all when the drivers get hurt. It’s a relief to see that the blimpy Car of Tomorrow is actually doing its job, taking the brunt of the most punishing impacts so that the drivers don’t have to.
Comments
Nissan63
Mar 5, 2008 at 8:58 pm
“Nascar is the biggest waste of time. The only good part of the race is when something goes wrong and someone crashes. They’re just driving around in a fucking circle.”
You are WRONG, its an oval! lol I agree, it is as exciting to watch as Golf, or British Comedy. Great to turn on the T.V. watch a little NASCAR and take a nap.
NASCAR would be so much greater if they were driving actual factory cars, or hell make it a Circle 8 track!
raptorattack
Mar 5, 2008 at 7:02 pm
colin is stupid nascar rules
RatsEatChildren
Mar 5, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Hey Colin, when people like u open your mouth about NASCAR, all it does is make you look ignorant. Like every dumbass who says “all they do is go in a circle” or “nascar drivers only turn left, duh-huh-huh” all it means is that they don’t know what they’re looking at when they watch a race. It’s like watching any other team sport and saying “all theyre doing is chasing a stupid ball around, why do they all want that ball so bad? Can’t they just go to the store and get their own?” It just makes you sound like a retard.
Colin
Mar 5, 2008 at 3:44 am
Nascar is the biggest waste of time. The only good part of the race is when something goes wrong and someone crashes. They’re just driving around in a fucking circle.
dotover24
Mar 4, 2008 at 6:14 pm
WHEN IT COMES TO JEFF GORDON I POST SOMETHING. LOL HE IS THE GREATEST. DID NOT TAKE THEM LONG TO GET ON THINGS WHEN JEFF SPOKE. AT LEAST HE ADMITTED HE MADE A MISTAKE NOT LIKE MOST OF THEM WOULD DO. ALWAYS BLAME SOMEONE ELSE.
Anonymous
Mar 4, 2008 at 4:57 pm
dotover24, I’m proud of you, women don’t usually post comments!
dotover24
Mar 4, 2008 at 1:18 pm
YES, IT WAS JEFF GORDON, BEST DRIVER IN NASCAR, IT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN TO THIS GUY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DALE SR.THING. SHAME ON NASCAR. I BET THEY WILL DO SOMETHING NOW.
Nissan63
Mar 4, 2008 at 2:27 am
At least it was Gordon
Josh
Mar 3, 2008 at 11:17 pm
This is the main reason for new designs. Drivers need to be safer. Even if it costs a few mph.
Joe Mama
Mar 3, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Yee-owch! Great clip, glad Jeff Gordon’s not hurt! I wonder how the old NASCAR car would’ve handled the same impact.