NASCAR is better in one department...

...than the international race leagues: safety.

http://www.motorsportmediamulti.com/Tetsuya_Ota_1998_Japanese_GT/TBK_FAMEFLAME_DK_Tetsuya_Ota-1998_Japanese_GT_Championship_at_Fuji_International_Speedway.mpg

Auto race organizers told to pay over fiery crash
NASCAR followed through with a good idea by curtailing all racing back to the yellow flag. From the land of the rising sun, and that really odd beverage called Saki, comes a story that could have happened in America. 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 “doctor car” and some fire engines standing by for such an emergency. The court also ruled that Ota could have slowed his vehicle quicker thus a reduction from the originally requested 300 million ($2,697,841) Yen. Some suggest that if it were not for TV coverage of the fire, Ota could not have proved his case of the 50 second time lapse. TV Tokyo Corp. was held partially responsible in the case. Even though NASCAR is still honing their response format, the Cup sanctioning body is miles ahead of other racing groups.

http://insiderracingnews.com/headlines/110603.html

One guy with a fire extinguisher!?!?!

In related news Nascar is still seeking technology to allow their cars to be able to turn right.

[videoholic]

It\'s a little easier for NASCAR to monitor their track than a GT style track.

Nascar is gay. It takes skill but its not my thing. Especially to go to. I dont see how all these nascar fans could get into the detail that nascar is about. Most just seem like beer lovin crazy fools. Nascar has NO ACTION imo. Watch F1 - then again its not a purely american sport. Scratch that. :rolleyes:

I seem to recall that Williams BMW criticized the management of the US Grand Prix for EMTs not responding fast enough after Ralf Schumacher\'s crash in June.  Yes it\'s easier for medical assistance to reach the crash site on an oval course than it is on a road course.