Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe
I dunno... maybe putting fuel tanks in back (instead of the front) would help!
Hello?!?!?
That's the first thing that gets whacked in a crash...  |
If you haven't been close to the sport, you might think so... But not so.
Those cars rarely hit the front on anything, and contrary to what most think, the fuel tanks almost never catch fire or explode. By design, the fuel tank is as far away from the driver and engine as possible. The spectacular fire footage you normally see is the result of 3 gallons of engine oil and engine fuel being pumped out the head gasket, then igniting on the headers. The multi-layer fire suits are good for a full-on nitro fire for (don't quote me) a couple minutes. Driver's walk away from much worse fires than the one Kalitta experienced.
The fuel pumps typically move more than 2.5 gallons per second with a high capacity return circuit (think radiator-cooling-hose size supply and return). So long as the engine is turning, the fuel tank is temporary storage at best.
At half track, those engines are dieseling, the driver must shut off the fuel supply to stop the engine, and to tug on the brake handle to slow the car. And key: must be concious to do so.
I don't know what happened, but he likely wasn't able to squeeze the fuel shut off handle, for some reason. RIP Scotty
