NASCAR testing data boxes in Dover
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
September 21, 2001
5:29 PM EDT (2129 GMT)
DOVER, Del. - NASCAR officials announced that six cars will be testing accident data collecting boxes at Dover Downs International Speedway this weekend. Although it's being done in an experimental manner, it’s the first time in the 53-year history of the sanctioning body’s existence such measures have been taken.
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Can the data boxes aid in gaining info from NASCAR accidents?
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After four deaths through a 10-month span in NASCAR, the call started to go out for the consideration of devices to collect pertinent data when a crash occurs. The hope is that information gathered will be able to prevent serious or fatal injuries to drivers while also being helpful in designing race cars, as well.
Two cars in the Winston Cup race, Bobby Labonte’s No. 18 Pontiac and Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet, will be carrying the prototype boxes.
In the Busch Series race on Saturday, Jimmie Johnson’s and Jason Keller will have them on board. The Busch North Series is also racing here this weekend and Dale Shaw and Tom Carey are carrying them in their 150-lap event.
Gary Nelson, Winston Cup Series director, commented on the measures being taken by NASCAR regarding usage of the boxes.
“Now, before anyone starts coming up with any theories, I’d like to say that the test we’re doing this weekend with the accident recorders is to ensure that, in this environment, that they do their job properly,” Nelson said. “There are two big hurdles we want to cross.
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Gary Nelson
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“One has to do with the heat inside the cars. Where do we want to mount these things to make sure they work with the intense heat inside the cars?
“The second thing is the durability. Will they work for the duration of the race?”
They are currently mounted in the car where the drivers easily touch them from their seats. Nelson said that mounting them on a floor board is not an option because the heat that the sheet metal its made of gets to hot.
“The ideal place is on a solid metal bracket,” Nelson continued. “You’d much rather have them on the frame of the car and also oriented where it understands forward and sideways motion.”
The boxes are being developed and monitored by a private company outside of NASCAR. Nelson wouldn’t say which company that was. The units are self-powered with its own battery sources.
Among other things, the ideal recorder will be able to determine impact and G-forces resulting from the angle of various impacts. Once the durability and mounting locations are determined, Nelson hopes to move forward with more testing before placing them in all NASCAR race cars.
“Our goal is to have all the Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series (race vehicles), in the Daytona events in February, running with the accident data recorders,” he said. “This is our first step to get that result.
“What we learn this weekend will tell us what the next little steps are going to be.”
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