Newtons second law of motion F = d[mv] / dt. seems to be something the talking heads at SPEED have never heard of . At least they seem to want to ignore it when they credit the COT with Michael McDowell not being injured in yesterdays wreck . McDowell hit with the left front corner that is virtually the same as the old car , the car then rotated and hit on the left rear deflected on down the track barrel rolling expending more energy . Those that passed high school physics understand energy expelled spinning and rolling is energy that is not absorbed on impact , or in simpler terms its that sudden stop that really hurts .
For those that saw the wrecks of Adam Petty , Dale Earnhardt , Kenny Irwin jr , Tony Roper know they were very unspectacular . Contrast that with the wreck of Geoff Bodine in the first truck race at Daytona , Rusty's big wreck on the back chute at Daytona or almost any highlight reel type wreck you ever see where in 99% of the cases the driver walks away .
I was glad to see Jeff Burton credit the safer barrier , H.A.N.S devices and good seats and belts with McDowell's lack of injuries but not the COT . Always go with science over hype , Earnhardt , Roper , Petty and Irwin would all be alive with proper seats and belts , H.A.N.S and safer barriers but just as dead in the COT .
Do you think the COT made a difference in Jeff Gordon's wreck @ Vegas, then?
I was glad to see Jeff Burton credit the safer barrier , H.A.N.S devices and good seats and belts with McDowell's lack of injuries but not the COT
I agree fully... and with what your saying, but to not give the "COT" any credit...is wrong.
it's weird though..when a lot of people have commented on the wreck, they seem to be more "amazed at the flip" ...sure the flip looks spectacular, but it's the "HIT" into the wall that was the violent part, the flip is nothing compared to that massive blow he took into the wall, even he said himself "he was mad well he was flipping" so that obviously was not the worst part of the wreck. and that is a prime example of what the "Safe Wall" is suppose to do, sure it looks bad the car "bounced" off it..and went into a roll, but that just dissipated the impact...exactly what the safe wall is designed for
I tell you one thing though, that was sure a "great" test for the Safer Barrier,COT,Seats,H.A.N.S. and everything eles....but that's 1 test that does not need to be done again.
Do you think the COT made a difference in Jeff Gordon's wreck @ Vegas, then?
While i think certain aspects of the COT maybe safer such as driver side impacts they are not applicable to what happend yesterday at all . In a study by Popular Mechanics of the COT and safety they concured with my position .
Most of the safety improvements have been evolutionary in other areas as i said and not in the design of the COT as Jeff Burton pointed out yesterday . Put me down as going with Jeff Burton, Sir Isaac Newton and Popular Mechanics over those of a former landscaper and someone who is a shill for NASCAR and now predominately famous these days for saying boogity boogity boogity.
As for your question about Jeff's hit at Vegas would you say it was harder then this one ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVlj7F8OJCY
Considering Waltrip's car broke apart, dissipating energy in the process, I'd say Gordon's hit was harder...Probably not as hard as Jeff Fuller a couple of years ago at Kentucky, but still a harder hit than Waltrip.
EDIT: Going by the formula, Gordon's hit would be harder (ie. more force) just because he was going faster...