I can't remember but was the car Shane was hurt in also a Champ car? If so, don't someone think they should be rethinking the design of the cages on these cars. Thats a pretty long bar that runs parallel to the car on top of the cage. Always safety first as we all like to see these drivers get out of the car under their own power. Glad you are alright T-Mez and hope to see Shane race again.

Yeah same car, and same track as well
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Note the extra triangulation in the roll cage of
the Rotondo - Weirich 2011 Silver Crown cars:


Compared to their 2010 cars which most
other champ cars are still similar to:


This was pointed out by my friend Wade Seiler who also noted that any
unbraced side roll cage tube that can deform enough to reach the drivers
head is a concern. This is the tube in question:

It doesn't matter how much you brace that top "halo" of a car.. when you take a car that weighs 1500 plus the driver, and throw a speed of well over 100 mph and hit the cage right on the wall somethings going to give.. and if it doesnt give, then the drivers neck and back will.. there is only so much you can do to these cars to make them safe.. only thing else is to encase the drivers in foam and make the walls made out of down feathers... It sucks to see someone get hurt racing, but we get in these cars with the knowledge and understanding that things can go from sugar to $hit in .01 seconds..

Im not so sure. Im not a designer but the area seems much bigger than a sprint or midget. Could some Triangled bracing be added to the sides to support the halo while still allowing some collapsability? Downside would be only access through top of cage.

Chuck, who says 9racing has great points about the weight and size but to say nothing can be done, Well im not so sure.

well without wanting to step on anyone`s toes in here......esp. one with the 9racing name.....if you have accidents with the damage happening to the halo i say...never say never......thicker wall tubing and better triangulation...and many other steps that should be taken to prevent this type of crash..........

I think what you are looking at in that picture is actually a driver window net, not bracing.

you can tear up a freight train at 30 mph ,if you hit /get hit just right, and if you get too rigid, something has to give up somewhere else, at some point.

There is another bar coming from the side tube up to the tube that holds the rock guard. Sorry not tube savvy, But if ya look at it you can see it.

Don't see that but now I do see window nets on both sides of the rollcage.

---------- Post added at 05:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:50 PM ----------

I think there could be some knowledge and understanding out there for some improvement and not to just say ahhhhhhhh what the heck in .01 seconds. Maybe this will get some people thinking in that direction. Thank you.