Firestone Firehawk 600
Encyclopedia
The Firestone Firehawk 600 was a CART series
race scheduled for April 29, 2001 at the Texas Motor Speedway
in Fort Worth, Texas
. It was scheduled for 250 laps around the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) oval at TMS. However, it was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to concerns about driver safety.
The race was sponsored by Firestone
and Pioneer Corporation
.
race on a high-banked track designed for NASCAR
racing. Texas Motor Speedway, which opened in 1997, is classified as an intermediate oval with a length of 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The turns are banked at 24° oval. By comparison, the turns at Indianapolis
are only banked at 9 degrees, and those at Michigan
are only 18°.
TMS was originally designed with a dual-banking layout. The steep 24° banking on top would handle NASCAR races. A secondary 8° banking below was designed for the faster open-wheel machines. CART had expressed interest in holding a race at the facility, but after closer examination of the unusual dual-banking system, decided it was not feasible.
The rival Indy Racing League had run what is now the Bombardier Learjet 550 since 1997, along with a fall race from 1998 to 2004. IRL cars are slower than their CART counterparts. Combined with their normally aspirated engines and a higher downforce
chassis, the IRL cars were able to handle the steep bankings. The secondary banking design was deemed a failure, and in 1998, the turn transitions were reconfigured, and the dual banking was removed, in favor of a larger apron.
After the success of the IndyCar Series
event, CART desired to hold an event at the track. Over the summer of 2000, negotiations were ongoing, with a tentative date of May 6, 2001 set for the inaugural event. When the 2001 CART schedule was released, the race was scheduled for April 29, 2001, and was set to air live on ABC
. However, it was eventually switched to sister network ESPN
.
engines, and less downforce, thus were expected to traverse the circuit much faster. TMS would have been the highest-banked track for a CART race since CART raced at Atlanta
in 1983. The high banking and sharp turns were expected to impose unprecedented g loads
on the drivers and cars.
A test was scheduled for December 18, 2000 in order to address concerns.
TMS president Eddie Gossage wrote to CART management urging them to mandate certain suspension components, among others, to improve safety for the event. CART driver Maurício Gugelmin
expressed that the drivers would face a challenge, but was confident that CART would find the solutions needed to conduct the race. Gugelmin also noted that "stronger parts will be necessary because of the loading generated by the banking."
, a former Indy Racing League driver (who had raced previously at Texas in the IRL) was the first driver to take to the track. The target speeds were set at 225 mph. Bräck completed over 100 laps, with a top lap over 221 mph. CART chief steward J. Kirk Russell, track officials, Bräck
, and Team Rahal
expressed satisfaction with the test and the data collected. CART set its rules package for the race as utilizing 37 inHG
manifold pressure (down from 40) and installing the Hanford device on all rear wings.
While CART did not arrange a full-field open test, several private tests followed. The second series of private tests, scheduled for three days, began February 21, 2001. The entire week was hindered by rain and cool temperatures. Patrick Racing
and driver Jimmy Vasser
were the first teams to take to the track. On the first day, rain kept the track closed until 11:30 a.m. A busy afternoon saw Vasser drive over 100 laps, with a top lap over 215 mi/h. Vasser reported it was "fairly easy to drive flat out
" and said the track was somewhat bumpy. The team claimed to have accomplished all of their goals in the abbreviated half-day session, and cancelled the remaining two days they had scheduled for the test.
Team KOOL Green
tested at the track on February 22 with driver Dario Franchitti
. He completed 190 laps with a top lap speed of 225.7 mi/h. Top trap speeds may have been as high as 228 mi/h.
Like Patrick Racing
the day before, Team Green cancelled their second scheduled day af testing when they felt they had accomplished their testing goals after only one session. Franchitti expressed reservations about the tracks roughness and reported pulling 3 Gs
in the corners. He also predicted that two-wide racing would be possible during the race.
PacWest Racing
also tested at the track on February 22 with rookie driver Scott Dixon
and Maurício Gugelmin
In 55 degree weather, Dixon drove about 140 laps, with a top speed close to 225 mph. Gugelmin also reported the ability to drive flat out
around the track.
Also at the track on February 22 was Penske Racing
with driver Hélio Castroneves
and Walker Racing
with driver Tora Takagi. Castroneves had a fast lap about 226 mph.
All scheduled testing for February 23 was cancelled due to rain. During the week, no incidents were reported. Tora Takagi, however, suffered gearbox trouble, and completed only 20 laps of testing.
for the Indy Racing League events was set June 5, 1998, by Tony Stewart
(24.059 seconds; 224.448 mph). The fastest race lap, aided by a tow
was set by Billy Boat
on June 6, 1998 (23.759 seconds; 227.273 mph). The following year, the cars were slowed down by rules changes, and speed remained in the 215-216 mph range.
Scott Dixon
's unaided 225 mi/h lap during testing already unofficially broke the IRL's qualfying record.
The track itself, however, underwent a few upgrades. Changes included a concrete wall on pit lane between the pit stalls and the grassy "quad oval" area along the frontstretch. The track's surface was also smoothed in some areas, in response to the complaints.
and IRL utilized a track measurement of 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The first practice session saw no incidents. Tony Kanaan
turned the fastest lap at 22.845 seconds (233.539 mph), a full second quicker than the fastest time reported during the test sessions.
crashed in turn 3. His car got loose exiting turn 2 and hit the inside wall at 66.2 Gs
. His foot became lodged between the pedals, and the car accelerated. The car slid down the backstrech and hit the outside wall in turn 3 with a force of 113.1 Gs
.. The car continued to slide until it reached the apex between turn 3 and turn 4. Guglemin claims to have blacked-out
during the crash, but he was not seriously injured. Gugelmin was wearing the HANS device
. He withdrew, nursing bruised shoulders and ribs, and sat out the rest of the weekend.
Meanwhile, Kenny Bräck
upped the fastest lap of the day to 22.821 seconds (233.785 mph). Dario Franchitti
logged the fastest single trap speed at the start/finish line, at 238.936 mph.
During the day, some drivers remarked on the improvements made to the surface, that various bumps had been smoothed out. Most called the track very fast, and two-wide racing and drafting
was observed. Bryan Herta
likened the track to a bowl, calling it "fast and fun." Paul Tracy also called it "a fast track." Bruno Junqueira
said it was the fastest track he had ever driven. An awe struck Nicolas Minassian
compared it to a riding a roller coaster
. Hélio Castroneves
called the track "physical," due to the banking, and Cristiano da Matta
echoed the sentiment.
The first serious concerns about driver safety occurred on Friday afternoon. Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, would later report that two drivers felt dizzy and disoriented after running their cars at over 230 mi/h, and that they felt they couldn't control their cars. The identities of the two drivers were not disclosed, but Tony Kanaan
and Alex Zanardi
later claimed they experienced the symptoms. Adrian Fernandez
also reported to the media he was experiencing dizziness. Olvey said in his 25 years of working in motorsports, it was a problem he had never experienced.
ran a lap of 22.542 seconds (236.678 mph) to break the all-time track record from the previous afternoon.
Cristiano da Matta
was involved in the second crash of the weekend. His car crashed in turn 3, and he was uninjured.
qualified for the pole position at an all-time official track record of 22.854 seconds (233.447 mph). Patrick Carpentier
was second, and Oriol Servia
third. Twenty-four of the twenty-five cars were over 226 mi/h, and the average speed for the field was 229.9 mph (370 km/h).
During qualifying, drivers were reporting 5 lateral Gs
sustained for 14-18 of the 23 seconds per lap.
and Mario Dominguez
had led the speed charts in practice and qualifying, with top laps over 188 mi/h. Damien Faulkner
won the race at an average speed of 150.491 mph.
By late Saturday afternoon, concerns were rising about driver safety on the track. Patrick Carpentier
went to the medical facility to have his wrist checked. As an aside, he mentioned that he could not walk in a straight line for at least four minutes after he got out of his car. An impromptu survey was taken during the private drivers' meeting and 21 of the 25 drivers in the starting field reported suffering disorientation and vertigo-like
symptoms, including inner ear
, or vision problems, after running more than 10 laps (or 20 laps). They also claimed that they had had virtually no peripheral vision
and limited reaction time. This was due to sustained g-loads as high as 5.5--almost double what most persons can endure, and closer to what jet pilots usually experience in shorter time intervals.
and professor of aviation medicine at the University of Texas. They discussed the known levels of human tolerance of vertical g-loads. Jennings replied that the human body could not tolerate sustained loads of more than 4-4.5 Gs. CART determined that the race could not be run at more than 225 mi/h without raising safety concerns over G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness
.
CART officials tried to take some downforce out of the rear wings of the cars and reduce the horsepower.
However, by Sunday morning, time was running out to make changes necessary to hold the race safely. The morning warm-up session was canceled. Two hours before the scheduled start, the race was postponed. Over 60,000 fans were sent home. The move came after CART president Joe Heitzler and chief steward Chris Kniefel had a series of meetings with drivers, owners and sponsors. All parties agreed that it didn't make sense to hold the race under the circumstances.
At a press conference, Heitzler did not blame the track. Rather, he stressed that officials could not in good conscience allow a race with such serious concerns about the safety of the drivers. Olvey added that the vertigo symptoms might have been exaggerated since the temperature was an unseasonably warm 80 degrees. There was fear of the possibility that drivers could suffer "grey-outs
" or lose consciousness from G-LOC. It is also likely that the high g-loads would have been outside the design limits for the HANS device
, which was required for all CART races at oval tracks.
Gossage was harshly critical of CART's decision. He argued that CART assured him it could run the race even though it had not conducted more extensive tests at the track. Russell argued that there was no time due to scheduling conflicts. Michael Andretti
added that there was no real way to simulate ≈26 or more cars in a race. ESPN
's Robin Miller
later said that CART should have known there was a problem the minute the first driver clocked 230 mi/h on Friday--which would have been plenty of time to slow down the cars and race safely.
CART officials held out the possibility of rescheduling the race, but there was no room in the schedule and it was ultimately canceled.
The Firehawk 600 marked the first time a CART race had been canceled outright due to driver safety issues. The 1985 Michigan 500
was postponed six days due to concerns about Goodyear
's new radial tire. After three major crashes, drivers refused to participate, and the race was run the following weekend with the old bias-ply tires.
owner, Speedway Motorsports, sued CART on May 8 for breach of contract. Damages cited included issuing refunds for over 60,000 tickets, purse, the $2.1 million sanction fee, and additional compensation for promotional expenses, lost profits, and other damages.
During the suit, it subsequently emerged that CART had ignored repeated requests to conduct testing at TMS before the aborted race. On October 16, the two parties settled for an undisclosed amount. Terms were not disclosed, but estimates were between $5–$7 million. A contract that included a race for 2002 and 2003 was annulled.
In the aftermath, the handling of the incident was widely criticized by fans and media. While the sanctioning body was commended by many for choosing not to put its drivers in danger the race was largely viewed as a debacle, a low point for the slumping series, and very damaging to the organization in the months and years to come. CART reported that it spent $3.5 million for the settlement and legal costs, resulting in a $1.7 million loss for the third quarter of 2001. CART declared bankruptcy and was sold in 2003, became known as Champ Car
, and never attempted to return to Texas Motor Speedway. Ultimately it was absorbed into the Indy Racing League in 2008.
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
race scheduled for April 29, 2001 at the Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. It was scheduled for 250 laps around the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) oval at TMS. However, it was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to concerns about driver safety.
The race was sponsored by Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
and Pioneer Corporation
Pioneer Corporation
is a multinational corporation that specializes in digital entertainment products, based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. The company was founded in 1938 in Tokyo as a radio and speaker repair shop...
.
Background
The Firestone Firehawk 600 was to be the second attempt to run an open-wheelOpen wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
race on a high-banked track designed for NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing. Texas Motor Speedway, which opened in 1997, is classified as an intermediate oval with a length of 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The turns are banked at 24° oval. By comparison, the turns at Indianapolis
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
are only banked at 9 degrees, and those at Michigan
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
are only 18°.
TMS was originally designed with a dual-banking layout. The steep 24° banking on top would handle NASCAR races. A secondary 8° banking below was designed for the faster open-wheel machines. CART had expressed interest in holding a race at the facility, but after closer examination of the unusual dual-banking system, decided it was not feasible.
The rival Indy Racing League had run what is now the Bombardier Learjet 550 since 1997, along with a fall race from 1998 to 2004. IRL cars are slower than their CART counterparts. Combined with their normally aspirated engines and a higher downforce
Downforce
Downforce is a downwards thrust created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a car. The purpose of downforce is to allow a car to travel faster through a corner by increasing the vertical force on the tires, thus creating more grip....
chassis, the IRL cars were able to handle the steep bankings. The secondary banking design was deemed a failure, and in 1998, the turn transitions were reconfigured, and the dual banking was removed, in favor of a larger apron.
After the success of the IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
event, CART desired to hold an event at the track. Over the summer of 2000, negotiations were ongoing, with a tentative date of May 6, 2001 set for the inaugural event. When the 2001 CART schedule was released, the race was scheduled for April 29, 2001, and was set to air live on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. However, it was eventually switched to sister network ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Initial concerns
The expectations for dangerously high speeds were an early concern, and even led to rumors of cancellation or moving the race to the infield road course. Unlike their IRL counterparts, Champ Cars had much more power from their turbochargedTurbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
engines, and less downforce, thus were expected to traverse the circuit much faster. TMS would have been the highest-banked track for a CART race since CART raced at Atlanta
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
in 1983. The high banking and sharp turns were expected to impose unprecedented g loads
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
on the drivers and cars.
A test was scheduled for December 18, 2000 in order to address concerns.
TMS president Eddie Gossage wrote to CART management urging them to mandate certain suspension components, among others, to improve safety for the event. CART driver Maurício Gugelmin
Mauricio Gugelmin
Maurício Gugelmin is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series...
expressed that the drivers would face a challenge, but was confident that CART would find the solutions needed to conduct the race. Gugelmin also noted that "stronger parts will be necessary because of the loading generated by the banking."
Testing
The first CART test session began on December 19, 2000. Kenny BräckKenny Bräck
Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest...
, a former Indy Racing League driver (who had raced previously at Texas in the IRL) was the first driver to take to the track. The target speeds were set at 225 mph. Bräck completed over 100 laps, with a top lap over 221 mph. CART chief steward J. Kirk Russell, track officials, Bräck
Kenny Bräck
Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest...
, and Team Rahal
Rahal Letterman Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is an auto racing team that currently races in the American Le Mans Series and part–time in the IndyCar Series. Based in Hilliard, Ohio, it is co–owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, television talk show host David Letterman, and businessman Mike...
expressed satisfaction with the test and the data collected. CART set its rules package for the race as utilizing 37 inHG
Inch of mercury
Inches of mercury, ' is a unit of measurement for pressure. It is still widely used for barometric pressure in weather reports, refrigeration and aviation in the United States, but is seldom used elsewhere....
manifold pressure (down from 40) and installing the Hanford device on all rear wings.
While CART did not arrange a full-field open test, several private tests followed. The second series of private tests, scheduled for three days, began February 21, 2001. The entire week was hindered by rain and cool temperatures. Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing was an auto racing team in both Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.Patrick Racing was started by Pat Patrick with the formation of CART in 1978. Patrick Racing would win three Indianapolis 500s and two CART championships, making it one of the most successful CART teams ever.In...
and driver Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
were the first teams to take to the track. On the first day, rain kept the track closed until 11:30 a.m. A busy afternoon saw Vasser drive over 100 laps, with a top lap over 215 mi/h. Vasser reported it was "fairly easy to drive flat out
Wide open throttle
Wide open throttle refers to an internal combustion engine's maximum intake of air and fuel that occurs when the throttle plates inside the carburettor or throttle body are "wide open", providing the least resistance to the incoming air...
" and said the track was somewhat bumpy. The team claimed to have accomplished all of their goals in the abbreviated half-day session, and cancelled the remaining two days they had scheduled for the test.
Team KOOL Green
Andretti Green Racing
Andretti Autosport is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Star Mazda Championship, and U.S. F2000 National Championship.-Current IndyCar Drivers and Cars:*7 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com*26 Marco Andretti...
tested at the track on February 22 with driver Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
. He completed 190 laps with a top lap speed of 225.7 mi/h. Top trap speeds may have been as high as 228 mi/h.
Like Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing was an auto racing team in both Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.Patrick Racing was started by Pat Patrick with the formation of CART in 1978. Patrick Racing would win three Indianapolis 500s and two CART championships, making it one of the most successful CART teams ever.In...
the day before, Team Green cancelled their second scheduled day af testing when they felt they had accomplished their testing goals after only one session. Franchitti expressed reservations about the tracks roughness and reported pulling 3 Gs
G force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall.It may also refer to:* G-Force , a 2009 film by Disney** G-Force , a 2009 video game based on the film...
in the corners. He also predicted that two-wide racing would be possible during the race.
PacWest Racing
PacWest Racing
PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp...
also tested at the track on February 22 with rookie driver Scott Dixon
Scott Dixon
Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...
and Maurício Gugelmin
Mauricio Gugelmin
Maurício Gugelmin is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series...
In 55 degree weather, Dixon drove about 140 laps, with a top speed close to 225 mph. Gugelmin also reported the ability to drive flat out
Wide open throttle
Wide open throttle refers to an internal combustion engine's maximum intake of air and fuel that occurs when the throttle plates inside the carburettor or throttle body are "wide open", providing the least resistance to the incoming air...
around the track.
Also at the track on February 22 was Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
with driver Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing...
and Walker Racing
Walker Racing
Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:...
with driver Tora Takagi. Castroneves had a fast lap about 226 mph.
All scheduled testing for February 23 was cancelled due to rain. During the week, no incidents were reported. Tora Takagi, however, suffered gearbox trouble, and completed only 20 laps of testing.
Comparisons with IRL
The existing track qualifying record at Texas Motor SpeedwayTexas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
for the Indy Racing League events was set June 5, 1998, by Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
(24.059 seconds; 224.448 mph). The fastest race lap, aided by a tow
Drafting (racing)
Drafting or slipstreaming is a technique where two vehicles or other moving objects are caused to align in a close group reducing the overall effect of drag due to exploiting the lead object's slipstream...
was set by Billy Boat
Billy Boat
William "Billy" Leonard Boat is a former American open wheel driver who raced in the Indy Racing League....
on June 6, 1998 (23.759 seconds; 227.273 mph). The following year, the cars were slowed down by rules changes, and speed remained in the 215-216 mph range.
Scott Dixon
Scott Dixon
Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...
's unaided 225 mi/h lap during testing already unofficially broke the IRL's qualfying record.
Changes
Following the tests, very few changes were made to the cars leading up to he race. The teams that participated reported satisfaction with the information gathered during the tests. The primary concerns expressed dwelled on the roughness of the circuit.The track itself, however, underwent a few upgrades. Changes included a concrete wall on pit lane between the pit stalls and the grassy "quad oval" area along the frontstretch. The track's surface was also smoothed in some areas, in response to the complaints.
Friday morning practice
Going into race week, many drivers expressed apprehension about the upcoming race. The first practice session was held the morning of Friday April 27, 2001. CART officials re-measured the track for scoring purposes, and utilized a length of 1.482 miles. At the time, NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and IRL utilized a track measurement of 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The first practice session saw no incidents. Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan
Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
turned the fastest lap at 22.845 seconds (233.539 mph), a full second quicker than the fastest time reported during the test sessions.
| April 27, 2001 - Morning Practice Top Speeds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Driver | Time | Speed | |
| 1 |  Tony KanaanTony Kanaan Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara... |
22.845 | 233.539 mi/h | |
| 2 | Christian Fittipaldi Christian Fittipaldi Christian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR... |
23.001 | 231.955 mi/h | |
| 3 | Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing... |
23.003 | 231.935 mi/h | |
| 4 | Cristiano da Matta Cristiano da Matta Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:... |
23.033 | 231.633 mi/h | |
| 5 | Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing... |
23.035 | 231.613 mi/h | |
Friday afternoon practice
The first crash of the weekend occurred during the Friday afternoon session. Maurício GugelminMauricio Gugelmin
Maurício Gugelmin is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series...
crashed in turn 3. His car got loose exiting turn 2 and hit the inside wall at 66.2 Gs
G force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall.It may also refer to:* G-Force , a 2009 film by Disney** G-Force , a 2009 video game based on the film...
. His foot became lodged between the pedals, and the car accelerated. The car slid down the backstrech and hit the outside wall in turn 3 with a force of 113.1 Gs
G force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall.It may also refer to:* G-Force , a 2009 film by Disney** G-Force , a 2009 video game based on the film...
.. The car continued to slide until it reached the apex between turn 3 and turn 4. Guglemin claims to have blacked-out
G-LOC
G-LOC, pronounced 'GEE-lock', is the abbreviation of G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness, a term generally used in aerospace physiology to describe a loss of consciousness occurring from excessive and sustained g-forces draining blood away from the brain causing cerebral hypoxia...
during the crash, but he was not seriously injured. Gugelmin was wearing the HANS device
HANS device
The HANS device is a safety item compulsory in many car racing sports...
. He withdrew, nursing bruised shoulders and ribs, and sat out the rest of the weekend.
Meanwhile, Kenny Bräck
Kenny Bräck
Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest...
upped the fastest lap of the day to 22.821 seconds (233.785 mph). Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
logged the fastest single trap speed at the start/finish line, at 238.936 mph.
During the day, some drivers remarked on the improvements made to the surface, that various bumps had been smoothed out. Most called the track very fast, and two-wide racing and drafting
Drafting (racing)
Drafting or slipstreaming is a technique where two vehicles or other moving objects are caused to align in a close group reducing the overall effect of drag due to exploiting the lead object's slipstream...
was observed. Bryan Herta
Bryan Herta
Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...
likened the track to a bowl, calling it "fast and fun." Paul Tracy also called it "a fast track." Bruno Junqueira
Bruno Junqueira
Bruno Junqueira is a Brazilian race car driver that most recently competed in the IRL IndyCar Series. He is a former Formula 3000 champion and three-time runner-up in the Champ Car World Series.-Early career:...
said it was the fastest track he had ever driven. An awe struck Nicolas Minassian
Nicolas Minassian
Nicolas Minassian is a French race driver of Armenian descent.After spending finishing 2nd place in the 1993 Formula Renault Eurocup, he graduated to the French Formula Three Championship where he finished runner-up to countryman Laurent Redon at his second attempt in 1995...
compared it to a riding a roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
. Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing...
called the track "physical," due to the banking, and Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:...
echoed the sentiment.
The first serious concerns about driver safety occurred on Friday afternoon. Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, would later report that two drivers felt dizzy and disoriented after running their cars at over 230 mi/h, and that they felt they couldn't control their cars. The identities of the two drivers were not disclosed, but Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan
Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
and Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
later claimed they experienced the symptoms. Adrian Fernandez
Adrian Fernández
José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...
also reported to the media he was experiencing dizziness. Olvey said in his 25 years of working in motorsports, it was a problem he had never experienced.
| April 27, 2001 - Afternoon Practice Top Speeds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Driver | Time | Speed | |
| 1 |  Kenny BräckKenny Bräck Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest... |
22.821 | 233.785 mi/h | |
| 2 | Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara... |
22.912 | 232.856 mi/h | |
| 3 |  Paul TracyPaul Tracy Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series... |
22.936 | 232.612 mi/h | |
| 4 |  Scott DixonScott Dixon Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins... |
22.945 | 232.521 mi/h | |
| 5 |  Bryan HertaBryan Herta Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series... |
22.991 | 232.056 mi/h | |
Saturday practice
On April 28, 2001 the morning practice session saw the fastest speeds thus far at the track. Paul TracyPaul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
ran a lap of 22.542 seconds (236.678 mph) to break the all-time track record from the previous afternoon.
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:...
was involved in the second crash of the weekend. His car crashed in turn 3, and he was uninjured.
| April 28, 2001 - Morning Practice Top Speeds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Driver | Time | Speed | |
| 1 | Paul Tracy Paul Tracy Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series... |
22.542 | 236.678 mi/h | |
| 2 | Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara... |
22.556 | 236.531 mi/h | |
| 3 |  Max PapisMax Papis Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi... |
22.604 | 236.029 mi/h | |
| 4 | Bryan Herta Bryan Herta Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series... |
22.605 | 236.019 mi/h | |
| 5 | Kenny Bräck Kenny Bräck Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest... |
22.624 | 235.82 mi/h | |
Qualifying
Kenny BräckKenny Bräck
Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest...
qualified for the pole position at an all-time official track record of 22.854 seconds (233.447 mph). Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
was second, and Oriol Servia
Oriol Servia
Oriol Servià i Imbers is a race car driver in the IndyCar Series, originally from Catalonia, Spain. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.-Early career:...
third. Twenty-four of the twenty-five cars were over 226 mi/h, and the average speed for the field was 229.9 mph (370 km/h).
During qualifying, drivers were reporting 5 lateral Gs
G force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall.It may also refer to:* G-Force , a 2009 film by Disney** G-Force , a 2009 video game based on the film...
sustained for 14-18 of the 23 seconds per lap.
| April 28, 2001 - Qualifying Speeds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Driver | Time | Speed | Team |
| 1 | Kenny Bräck Kenny Bräck Kenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest... |
22.854 | 233.447 | Team Rahal |
| 2 | Patrick Carpentier Patrick Carpentier Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the... |
22.864 | 233.345 | Forsythe Racing |
| 3 |  Oriol ServiaOriol Servia Oriol Servià i Imbers is a race car driver in the IndyCar Series, originally from Catalonia, Spain. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.-Early career:... |
22.900 | 232.978 | Sigma Autosport |
| 4 | Bryan Herta Bryan Herta Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series... |
22.931 | 232.663 | Zakspeed Zakspeed Zakspeed is a motor racing team from Germany, founded in 1968 by Erich Zakowski and nowadays run by his son Peter Zakowski. Their home town of Niederzissen is located not far away from the Nürburgring race track.-1973 to 1981: Saloon and sports car racing:... /Forsythe Racing |
| 5 |  Shinji NakanoShinji Nakano Shinji Nakano is a racing driver from Japan.His father, Tsuneharu was also a racing driver who competed in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship etc.-Pre Formula One Career:-Formula One Career:... |
22.988 | 232.086 | Fernández Racing Fernández Racing Fernández Racing is a Mexican motor racing team that competes in the American Le Mans Series and previously Champ Car, the IRL IndyCar Series, and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The team was co-founded by Adrian Fernández and Tom Anderson in 2001.-Open wheel:... |
| 6 | Alex Zanardi Alex Zanardi Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver... |
23.003 | 231.935 | Mo Nunn Racing |
| 7 | Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing... |
23.067 | 231.291 | Team Penske |
| 8 | Alex Tagliani Alex Tagliani Alexandre Tagliani is a Canadian auto racing driver from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He currently competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series, driving the #77 entry for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.-Champ Car career:... |
23.077 | 231.191 | Forsythe Racing |
| 9 | Christian Fittipaldi Christian Fittipaldi Christian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR... |
23.079 | 231.171 | Newman/Haas Racing |
| 10 | Paul Tracy Paul Tracy Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series... |
23.097 | 230.991 | Team Green |
| 11 | Cristiano da Matta Cristiano da Matta Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:... |
23.105 | 230.911 | Newman/Haas Racing |
| 12 |  Adrian FernandezAdrian Fernández José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:... |
23.116 | 230.801 | Fernández Racing Fernández Racing Fernández Racing is a Mexican motor racing team that competes in the American Le Mans Series and previously Champ Car, the IRL IndyCar Series, and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The team was co-founded by Adrian Fernández and Tom Anderson in 2001.-Open wheel:... |
| 13 | Michel Jourdain Jr. |
23.120 | 230.761 | Bettenhausen Racing |
| 14 | Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara... |
23.142 | 230.542 | Mo Nunn Racing |
| 15 |  Nicolas MinassianNicolas Minassian Nicolas Minassian is a French race driver of Armenian descent.After spending finishing 2nd place in the 1993 Formula Renault Eurocup, he graduated to the French Formula Three Championship where he finished runner-up to countryman Laurent Redon at his second attempt in 1995... |
23.146 | 230.502 | Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships... |
| 16 |  Dario FranchittiDario Franchitti George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing... |
23.165 | 230.313 | Team Green |
| 17 | Max Papis Max Papis Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi... |
23.176 | 230.204 | Team Rahal |
| 18 | Michael Andretti Michael Andretti Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:... |
23.215 | 229.817 | Team Motorola |
| 19 | Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing... |
23.292 | 229.057 | Team Penske |
| 20 | Scott Dixon Scott Dixon Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins... |
23.319 | 228.792 | PacWest Racing PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
| 21 | Bruno Junqueira Bruno Junqueira Bruno Junqueira is a Brazilian race car driver that most recently competed in the IRL IndyCar Series. He is a former Formula 3000 champion and three-time runner-up in the Champ Car World Series.-Early career:... |
23.373 | 228.263 | Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships... |
| 22 | Jimmy Vasser Jimmy Vasser Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series... |
23.479 | 227.233 | Patrick Racing Patrick Racing Patrick Racing was an auto racing team in both Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.Patrick Racing was started by Pat Patrick with the formation of CART in 1978. Patrick Racing would win three Indianapolis 500s and two CART championships, making it one of the most successful CART teams ever.In... |
| 23 | Tora Takagi |
23.533 | 226.711 | Walker Racing Walker Racing Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:... |
| 24 | Roberto Moreno Roberto Moreno Roberto Pupo Moreno , usually known as Roberto Moreno and also as Pupo Moreno, is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion before joining... |
23.580 | 226.260 | Patrick Racing Patrick Racing Patrick Racing was an auto racing team in both Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.Patrick Racing was started by Pat Patrick with the formation of CART in 1978. Patrick Racing would win three Indianapolis 500s and two CART championships, making it one of the most successful CART teams ever.In... |
| 25 | Max Wilson Max Wilson Max Wilson, , is a racing driver of Brazilian parentage.He started his motor racing career in 1985 in go-karts... |
24.308 | 219.483 | Arciero-Blair Racing |
Post-qualifying
After the CART series finished qualifying, the Dayton Indy Lights series held a 100 miles (160.9 km) race at the track. Dan WheldonDan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
and Mario Dominguez
Mario Domínguez
Mario Domínguez is a Mexican racing driver. He has competed in the CART and CCWS Champ Car series and later the IndyCar Series.-Early career:Domínguez first began racing in 1987 driving go-karts...
had led the speed charts in practice and qualifying, with top laps over 188 mi/h. Damien Faulkner
Damien Faulkner
Damien Faulkner is an Irish race car driver from County Donegal. Beginning his professional career in Formula Vauxhall Junior in 1995, he competed in the Formula Ford Festival in 1996 and finished 11th...
won the race at an average speed of 150.491 mph.
By late Saturday afternoon, concerns were rising about driver safety on the track. Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
went to the medical facility to have his wrist checked. As an aside, he mentioned that he could not walk in a straight line for at least four minutes after he got out of his car. An impromptu survey was taken during the private drivers' meeting and 21 of the 25 drivers in the starting field reported suffering disorientation and vertigo-like
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
symptoms, including inner ear
Inner ear
The inner ear is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In mammals, it consists of the bony labyrinth, a hollow cavity in the temporal bone of the skull with a system of passages comprising two main functional parts:...
, or vision problems, after running more than 10 laps (or 20 laps). They also claimed that they had had virtually no peripheral vision
Tunnel vision
Tunnel vision is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision.- Medical / biological causes :Tunnel vision can be caused by:...
and limited reaction time. This was due to sustained g-loads as high as 5.5--almost double what most persons can endure, and closer to what jet pilots usually experience in shorter time intervals.
Postponement
Olvey contacted Dr. Richard Jennings, a former flight director at NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and professor of aviation medicine at the University of Texas. They discussed the known levels of human tolerance of vertical g-loads. Jennings replied that the human body could not tolerate sustained loads of more than 4-4.5 Gs. CART determined that the race could not be run at more than 225 mi/h without raising safety concerns over G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness
G-LOC
G-LOC, pronounced 'GEE-lock', is the abbreviation of G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness, a term generally used in aerospace physiology to describe a loss of consciousness occurring from excessive and sustained g-forces draining blood away from the brain causing cerebral hypoxia...
.
CART officials tried to take some downforce out of the rear wings of the cars and reduce the horsepower.
However, by Sunday morning, time was running out to make changes necessary to hold the race safely. The morning warm-up session was canceled. Two hours before the scheduled start, the race was postponed. Over 60,000 fans were sent home. The move came after CART president Joe Heitzler and chief steward Chris Kniefel had a series of meetings with drivers, owners and sponsors. All parties agreed that it didn't make sense to hold the race under the circumstances.
At a press conference, Heitzler did not blame the track. Rather, he stressed that officials could not in good conscience allow a race with such serious concerns about the safety of the drivers. Olvey added that the vertigo symptoms might have been exaggerated since the temperature was an unseasonably warm 80 degrees. There was fear of the possibility that drivers could suffer "grey-outs
Brownout (medical)
A greyout is a transient loss of vision characterized by a perceived dimming of light and color, sometimes accompanied a loss of peripheral vision...
" or lose consciousness from G-LOC. It is also likely that the high g-loads would have been outside the design limits for the HANS device
HANS device
The HANS device is a safety item compulsory in many car racing sports...
, which was required for all CART races at oval tracks.
Gossage was harshly critical of CART's decision. He argued that CART assured him it could run the race even though it had not conducted more extensive tests at the track. Russell argued that there was no time due to scheduling conflicts. Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
added that there was no real way to simulate ≈26 or more cars in a race. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Robin Miller
Robin Miller (journalist)
Robin Lee Miller is an American motorsports journalist. He was an Indy car pit crew member and drove in the USAC midget series in the 1970s...
later said that CART should have known there was a problem the minute the first driver clocked 230 mi/h on Friday--which would have been plenty of time to slow down the cars and race safely.
CART officials held out the possibility of rescheduling the race, but there was no room in the schedule and it was ultimately canceled.
The Firehawk 600 marked the first time a CART race had been canceled outright due to driver safety issues. The 1985 Michigan 500
Firestone Indy 400
The Firestone Indy 400 was an IndyCar Series race held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.Between 1970 and 2007, Michigan International Speedway hosted at least one open-wheel race in every season, hosting 55 open-wheel races over 38 years...
was postponed six days due to concerns about Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
's new radial tire. After three major crashes, drivers refused to participate, and the race was run the following weekend with the old bias-ply tires.
Lawsuit and settlement
Texas Motor SpeedwayTexas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
owner, Speedway Motorsports, sued CART on May 8 for breach of contract. Damages cited included issuing refunds for over 60,000 tickets, purse, the $2.1 million sanction fee, and additional compensation for promotional expenses, lost profits, and other damages.
During the suit, it subsequently emerged that CART had ignored repeated requests to conduct testing at TMS before the aborted race. On October 16, the two parties settled for an undisclosed amount. Terms were not disclosed, but estimates were between $5–$7 million. A contract that included a race for 2002 and 2003 was annulled.
In the aftermath, the handling of the incident was widely criticized by fans and media. While the sanctioning body was commended by many for choosing not to put its drivers in danger the race was largely viewed as a debacle, a low point for the slumping series, and very damaging to the organization in the months and years to come. CART reported that it spent $3.5 million for the settlement and legal costs, resulting in a $1.7 million loss for the third quarter of 2001. CART declared bankruptcy and was sold in 2003, became known as Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, and never attempted to return to Texas Motor Speedway. Ultimately it was absorbed into the Indy Racing League in 2008.