He actually survived...

[Saitek]

http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Movie8776

*Shudder* - that took my heart hard!

I guess his legs are broken and he is a bit dazed after it all, but he lives to tell the tale.
If any of you have seen this do you know where I can find out more about the actual race?

Ben

[Craig.]

Sounds like it was in japan.
I just want to say i hope that marshall was both congratulated on his quick actions then yelled at for what he did with that driver. getting him out of the car while a good idea, was dangerous to both his safety and if he knew the guy was ok, then it was also dangerous to the driver. That being said what shocks me most, is that he left the driver alone and allowed him to stand up try and pull of his helmet. The race marshalls at all races are told in the event of an accident of that severity a driver is to remain where safe, motionless till medics have checked him out to make sure there are no broken bones in his neck. Just glad he survived. At first i thought this was the Alex Zanardi crash, was dreading seeing that again.

Might be the fuji circuit.

[Saitek]

I was surprised how they left him. He tried to stand up and couldn't... I'd like to know what the medics were doing whilst he was lying there.

[Craig.]

the whole point of the Marshalls being there is so someone is with the driver at all times immediatly after an accident untill medics can get there. The medical teams are usually stationed within 30 to 45 seconds of any part of the track. Japan has a history of less than great marshalling at races. A couple of times forumla 1 officials have complained over some very poor marshaling.

[Saitek]

Well using the track name I found the guys name. He is Kris Nissen from Denmark. He was driving a Porche Kremer.

[Craig.]

The crash was in 1998 and the driver of the red car (Ota) finished his court battles a year ago. Basically the courts found the organizers negligent in not providing immediate response and for having the pace car going too fast. Ota didn't get his full monetary award because the court found that he was driving too fast for the conditions (yellow flags, pace car on the track). many many changes have been made to JGTC since then to help prevent a driver from being stuck in a burning car for more than 50 seconds (Ota asserted up to 90) and to help prevent such spectacular crashes.

found it on another forum ben hope it helps.

[Hagar]

I haven't watched the clip. Maybe the marshal was afraid of the fire risk. In that case it's better to drag the driver out than leave him to fry.

[Craig.]

[quote]On May 3, 1998.. Japanese racing star Tetsuya Ota was involved in a chain reaction collision during a GT championship race. Ota was trapped in his car for more than 50 seconds while exposed to 800-degree temperatures. There was no safety crew coming to the rescue as fellow drivers frantically extinguished the flames. The result ended with serious burns to Ota and a lawsuit against track promoters and sponsors. Agreed upon event requirements called for safety crews to rescue a driver and extinguish any fire within 30 seconds or less. Ota signed papers claiming he would not seek damages from event organizers as is typical in some venue use agreements. In a District Court ruling, the hold harmless paperwork was thrown out and Ota was awarded 90 million ($809,352) Yen. Changes in the sport now include a

[Saitek]

found it on another forum ben hope it helps.

Thanks for that. I thought he was kris Nissen.
This link here speaks about him.

http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/archive/ ... 9000c.html
He actually did receive burns. He received nearly half a million

[Saitek]

I've just found out Craig that the man that put it out and got him out was another car driver! He stopped his car, ran over and grabbed an extinguisher and put it out..  The stupid marshalls/paramedics arrived when it was all over.

I also read it reached 800C in there and it melted his visor which then burned into his face.

[Craig.]

To be honest with you, i think something should be done to make sure marshalls are fully trained and actual course and medically trained. Its kind of reminisant of that race where i think it was Senna, stopped his car and got out to help another driver after a crash, i cant remember who it was, (might have been ricardo patrasie) because the marshalls wernt doing anything.

[Hagar]

Similar thing happened to Niki Lauda at the Nurburgring in 1976. He was dragged out of his blazing Ferrari by other drivers who almost certainly saved his life. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/1/newsid_2526000/2526869.stm

PS. The marshals can't be everywhere, especially on a big circuit. Unless you introduce professional marshals instead of volunteers mistakes are bound to happen.

[Craig.]

personally i think it shows the true respect and bravery of the drivers. these guys had the option of continuing thus helping out their championship chances but instead they chose to stop get out and help out despite being at risk. Again while it might be a stupid choice to make, its certainly a choice that earns my respect.
Thanks for the link Doug. Wasnt that accident the final nail in the coffin for the Nurburgring as an f1 venue, or was it another accident after?

PS. The marshals can't be everywhere, especially on a big circuit. Unless you introduce professional marshals instead of volunteers mistakes are bound to happen.

when there are lives on the line i think the professional option is much better. Even if they have volunteers aswell.

[Hagar]

Yep. That was the final straw. I think more drivers were killed at the Nurburgring than any other circuit. A lot of improvements have been introduced since then & the cars themselves are also a lot safer these days.

personally i think it shows the true respect and bravery of the drivers.

I think it's a natural instinct. They know the risks & would expect their colleagues to help them in similar circumstances. In Lauda's case the drivers who saved him were already out of the race. Brett Lunger who actually straddled the blazing car to pull him out had previously run into the back of him.

[Wing Nut]

Forget the driver!  What happened to the flag man?  :o