Chase Austin Huge Crash 2014 Indy Lights Freedom 100 at Indianapolis

Chase Austin makes massive contact with the barriers off Turn 1 during the 2014 Freedom 100. He was transported to hispital with a broken wrist
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[@mat2000100]

If this crash happened in Driven, the car would have exploded into a mushroom cloud, wiping out the entire track.

[@davidcarter2720]

Awesome safety engineering by someone. Had that tire barrier not been there, it would have been a head on impact into the wall/SAFER barrier. At that angle/speed, the SAFER barrier wouldn't have helped much. But the tire barrier absorbed the initial hit and started the car to turning. Whoever the person/engineering group was that came up with that addition definitely saved a life there.

[@BGSUALUM722]

I saw this race. I am glad he is okay despite the broken wrist.

[@STP43FAN1]

Man, it's like nobody scrubs off any speed before hitting these barriers anymore, be it NASCAR or Indycar.

[@laager3223]

Me and my dad was there at the race. We both saw chase lose the car and heading into the wall the angle the car was going we both knew it was going to be a nasty hit. Literally everyone gasp loudly when he hit the wall and then nothing but silence people started worrying cause at first it looked like chase wasn’t moving that much but all in all it was great to see him be okay but this moment I’ll never forget definitely as scary crash.

[@BryanRopar]

When they added that section of track I looked at that wall during that years Indy 500 and told my dad I don't like that wall sticking out like that and that looking at it reminded me of Greg Moore's fatal crash- I really hope they look into doing something about wall.

[@004308]

Glad the carbon fibre monocoque did it's job. If this crash happened in the 80's or earlier, we'd probaly see a dead driver.

[@geek49203]

Swede should've lived. They thought he'd be okay. Got a unit of tainted blood in the hospital and died later of those complications. But seriously, Swede was cracking jokes on the way to the hospital.

[@DeathclawsTheDragon2003]

I dont understand why Swede would just crack jokes at a time like that

[@geek49203]

You've never hung around race car drivers.....

[@DeathclawsTheDragon2003]

No i mean imagine you being in a car crash and u are being rescued by someone else and just crack jokes to him, that's extremely rude.....

[@geek49203]

The driver was joking. He had no way of knowing that his crew member was just hit by a truck, as that was at least 1/2 mile away. The jokes happened on the way to the hospital. Seriously, it's not like the politeness police were in force in auto racing back in the day.

[@ace_moneymaker]

Its a very good thing that we'll see a safer car for 2015 for Indy Lights. Had he let go of the wheel, the injuries would have been more minor i believe

[@alishashadows9599]

It's tough with all that adrenaline to fight against instincts. Even veterans have a hard time just letting go of the wheel.

[@spikejrt]

Should of let go of the wheel!

[@shanewofford7528]

Trying to save it, I guess. Gotta admire that dedication!

[@char6364]

A lot of veteran drivers today still hold onto the steering wheel in a crash - it's very difficult to train yourself to let go of the steering wheel when all the adrenaline is telling you to cling onto something as hard as possible before an impending impact!

[@tonyk501]

I watched the on-board cam replay carefully. Why the hell were there not tires covering all the exposed concrete areas of the corner SAFER barrier?! This Austin fellow was lucky to survive this mess as the nose hit the tires first and then the forward momentum sling-shot the car against the concrete SAFER wall...I ask again, why in the hell did they not line all of that corner section with more tires?! Had the initial impact point missed the tires and instead hit the SAFER head on just a few meters to the right, this could have easily been fatal.

[@Geit]

They should just make the wall longer so it doesnt have a 90° angle like it had in this crash. so they didnt have to use tires in the first place...or at least get some proper protection like the things they use at the Monaco F1 GP...instead of tires.

[@davidcarter2720]

@@Geit - I don't think there could have been a more direct angle towards that admittedly bare concrete wall. And the tire barrier did it's job - turned him.

[@montechester]

So happy Austin escaped with only a broken wrist. Hope he's back to racing soon. Indy really needs to look at reducing the impact speed on the few barriers left that can easily be hit end on like that. What is there obviously did a pretty good job but it can always be better. Analysis of this crash will give them a lot of data to analyse. If Chase hadn't tried to save it all the way to impact, he might have walked away with no broken bones, but you can't blame him for trying. Given the speed of impact, I'd say things turned out pretty well.

[@binky8501]

Look at the Holmatro guys..multiple crews all have a job. Never see that with the "new" AMR crew. Maybe when the ambulance company took over changes were made to SOPs

[@calaiscruiser]

the Indy Lights are fantastic racing and much better looking cars than the premier class!

[@motorsportracer97]

How did he get that low at T1? Anyway glad he's ok. Can't wait for the Indy 500

[@ace_moneymaker]

He was loose. He was sawing at the wheel lol.

[@juanthephenomenon993]

Whose is number 10 Garcia first name

[@openwheelisthebestandyoukn1206]

Great dedication, but he didn't brace for impact. Should've taken his hands off the wheel, ended up with an injured wrist.

[@firelynx1108]

ameturs

[@adriafitzy6459]

Cut out just before he impact hmm,*strokes air beard*

[@ecardona53]

This is the same fella that absolutely wrecked Kyle Busch at Bristol in a 2009 Xfinity race.

[@connorallen5681]

LET GO OF THE WHEEL!!!

[@xTremontiBridgex]

I was sitting in turn 1 for this race. Didn't see the crash though because there was a bald eagle flying over turn 1 at the same time.

[@fedde7232]

Worst timing ever

[@xTremontiBridgex]

@@fedde7232 good and bad if you ask me lol

[@itswais77]

Came off DecisionTimeRacing

[@avii9058]

Brad found it

[@patrickanderson9023]

And cried about it to the media..

[@ИгорьбсХодорич]

It formula e?

[@tgifhounds]

Hell of a crowd there.

[@RomeoRomeo5000]

When did they announce that he had passed away?

[@rudfil]

He didn't die you idiot.

[@brianglennon1546]

He didn't die he just broke his wrist you dipshit

[@mrbones2235]

he may had though he passed away but damn... do you guys really need to be salty about it? just wondering

[@zatgeye7320]

Indycar needs to do something about that wall. I am so surprised that wall passed FIA inspection when you have cars exiting that turn at 370-380 km/hour. You cant have a wall at right angles

[@shanewofford7528]

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar don't fall under the FIA's jurisdiction.

[@wooterz]

FIA inspected this track?

[@Marlin_Auschwitz27]

I don't really think so, and is not that concerning either.

[@ace_moneymaker]

That wall is there because of where part of the infield course goes. They would most likely have to leave it there or remove that section from the course

[@gturner38]

There's more connection between the FIA and Indy than you think. Indycar, NASCAR,SCCA and IMSA are among sever members of the Automotive Competition Commitee of the United States (ACCUS) which is an FIA member to oversee motorsports in the US (AAA is the American general motoring member of the FIA). All Indycar drivers hold FIA International Grade A licenses and the races are recognized on the FIA International calendar. as for that wall, there's nothing they can do about it so long as they want the road course esses there which are an absolute necessity for motorcycle racing.

[@cmpmendes]

It seems drivers onlt break rists in USA! In european single sitter racing, the drivers dont let go of the wheel!

[@rubyestes6804]

Cristiano Mendes "formula" driver live is cause they are using v6 wile indy i think is using v8s also "formula" cars race on slower tracks

[@ReapersTillDeath]

he broke his wrist because he DIDNT let go of the wheel!.. watch the onboard replay.. trying to save with the wheel turned right, then hitting a wall with no power steering slams the wheel left.. this is why you are SUPPOSED to let go when youre out of control... formula drivers do it as well...

[@cmpmendes]

I understand your reasoning but I'm not talking about F1. Talking about "formula's" in general. Since you mention that, V6 with 600hp+200hp electric! 200Mh in every track except Monaco and Hungaroring, expected 215mh in Monza and Spa! For cars with real downforce and wich are expected to brake and turn, speeds ain't that low! Also, someone mentioned power steering being 1 of the keyy facts for the diferences. I am pretty sure that the suspension layout is the game changer in this wrist talk.

[@cmpmendes]

***** Not trying to distiguish 1 championship from the other. Diferent crowds, diferent spectacles! New chassis should have arrived in 05 or 06! It's unheard of, using a 10 year old chassis. Anywhere other than classic racing! The chassis, the suspension, the tires, all outdated! This is one of those situations that could have been easily avoidable!

[@taomasterwaka6287]

Wow, that's gotta be the dumbest comment I've ever read