This video shows how nasty Rico's flip at Angell Park was. To only leave with a broken collar bone is astonishing. I think the safety in these cars is better than people give them credit for. In the video it shows how well the car itself stayed together. I don't race, but I have a feeling the HANS device may be the reason for the broken collar bone. Does anything know for sure if those provide a better chance of a broken collar bone due to it coming down the front of the body? Obviously you would rather have a broken collar bone than a spinal injury. These are the kind of videos the critics should see before immediately stating that midget and sprint car racing is unsafe. It's racing, and anytime you drive on the edge accidents will happen. I apologize if anyone else has already posted this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTN7OfGdjnc&sns=fb

thanks for postn!!....
____________
Brucer'

There is no racecar safe and on top of that, Its only vigilance in using and installing all equipment properly and maintaining it that makes them much safer than they've ever been before, Lives are still lost, serious injury still occurs.

However, given all things, you can slip in the bathtub and bust your skull.

Stay as safe as possible. I want to see you race again next week

There is no doubt that midgets and sprint cars are safer than they used to be. The roll cages, down-tubes, full containment seats, torque tube restraints, roll cage padding, fuel bladders, improved helmet designs, Hans devices, etc. have all contributed to fewer serious injuries. The chassis builders and equipment manufacturers have also made some very good advances in racecar safety. The part of the safety equation that I feel is lacking much too often, is the racing facility itself. I personally believe Rico’s injuries could have been much worse had this accident happened at many other facilities across the nation. The Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, which owns and operates the facilities at Angell Park Speedway, is one of the most safety conscience organizations I know of. I cringe every time I go to a racetrack where the posts protrude above the tops of the guardrails, tractors, water trucks, and grading equipment are parked just over the wall, (especially in the turns) and where the wall consists of huge concrete blocks that are low enough and thick enough that a racecar can flip on top of them. I often wonder why a sanctioning body would sign races at some of these tracks. I also wonder how some of these facilities ever acquire insurance for a racing event.

Rico's wreck was very very rough. And seeing post on here from people like Charles who have not been in a racecar nor experienced a wreck like Rico's should not even be making a comment. As far as the Hans device. I crashed pretty hard last month landing nose first and I was wearing my Hans. I'm very thankful for the Hans and I feel it saves lives. If indeed that's what broke his collar bone. I'd say job well done. I don't know about most of you. I'd take a broken collar bone over something much worse any day.

To say I've never raced a racecar on a race track would be wrong Florence 1988 three times. I've also helped build sprinters and Pitted on several different kinds of cars 1985-92.

That being said, Im glad your going to be ok as well, No need for the uninformed guff.