Has Tony Stewart just committed murder on a race track?

[hrd]

Personally, I'd put it at 75% dead bloke's fault - he was the one raging out and storming towards the car. That caused the incident. Without that retarded and pointless piece of road rage, it's just another innocous little stack at the speedway. And common sense rule number one - don't walk into moving cars. It's bad for you.

25% Stewart's fault for just being there basically and not making sure he was well out of the way. But you wouldn't expect the bloke to be dumb enough to walk into your car... This sort of shit happens reasonably regularly over there. You just hold your line and let them rage as you go past and expect him to come running over to you inthe pits later. That's the well established protocol. The young bloke fucked it all up.

I know Stewart has a history of rage himself, and that's not doing him any favours here obviously, with everyone quick to blame the Nascar version of the guy everybody loves to hate. The worst thing he MIGHT have done is blip the throttle to intimidate the guy, but I imaginie that's all part of the rules of engagement in these situations.

[Babalouie]

These things have no clutch, right? So you can't clutch it in and give it a big rev?

[hrd]

that's right

[TK]

No clutch, brakes are really only there to pull the car into a tighter left turn if required, most braking is done by the engine and/or washing off speed sideways, handle like a shopping trolley with a siezed LF wheel at low speed.
They cannot stop without stopping the engine, they cannot coast without throttle input, they can't turn properly unless they are loose, the brakes basically just swing the arse out & let the fronts bite a little.
At high speed they turn left real good, not so much right.
Handlng is based on being 'loose', if it ain't loose it don't handle.
If a guy lunges at you your options for avoiding him would be pretty much hit it & hope for the best.
To turn right you gotta let off the throttle, which kinda doesn't work if you're travelling slow but not real slow, it's outright impossible to swing the arse end left.

I know nothing of this Stewart guy, whether he's a 'tard or not is irrelevant really, if you stick yourself in the path of a sprintcar you're gonna get hurt/dead.

[nevans]

Does braking and the weight transfer that causes give you better front steering traction?

45 car manages to swerve him pretty easily with no throttle a second before Stewart hits him. It doesn't look like Ward Jr moves much between the 45 car passing and Stewart hitting him. It doesn't look good!

[Soopy]

Does braking and the weight transfer that causes give you better front steering traction?

45 car manages to swerve him pretty easily with no throttle a second before Stewart hits him. It doesn't look like Ward Jr moves much between the 45 car passing and Stewart hitting him. It doesn't look good!

45 car was on a completely different line. Stewart was much higher on the track.

[IMOA]

I'm guessing that Kevin ward knew pretty well how sprintcars handle at low speed and didn't put himself in a position where it was impossible to miss him. He certainly did out himself in a really stupid place and there's a lot of blame to go round there including those running series in the US who have encouraged this sort of stupid behavior for years.

I think it's a stretch to say he lunged at tony Stewart, he did lunge at the car before but with the panning when the camera came back Stewart was already sideways and ward was heading up the track and away from the car.

It does seem to me that ward was an idiot running down onto the race line and I wouldn't be surprised if this is something which happens at a lot of race meetings. Stewart hit the gas which put the car sideways and the back right caught him.

Whether Stewart hit the gas to steer away from ward (which is what Stewart will say) or it intimidate him (which is what Ward's family will say) I think will ultimately be for the court to decide. My prediction is reasonable doubt will be too difficult so criminal charges will either fail or not be pursued but this is going to cost Stewart a hell of a lot of money.

[Shitbreak]

Stewart was not fined for that helmet through the windscreen incident. Its these sort of incidents and the whole idea of 'wrecking' (i.e. getting retribution on the track without much penalty) that makes Nascar seam like a bunch of cowboys. Makes you wonder how a death like the one OP mentioned has not happened much sooner.

[Gassed250]

Umm, it was under a yellow flag, everyone else was pottering around without stabbing the throttle and somehow managing to turn left?

Yeah but everyone else didn't have a bloke tyring to get in their way !

[Gassed250]

45 car was on a completely different line. Stewart was much higher on the track.

It looks like 45 noticed him at the last minute judging by his reaction

[Soopy]

It looks like 45 noticed him at the last minute judging by his reaction

So imagine if he was on the same line as Stewart?

[IMOA]

So imagine if he was on the same line as Stewart?

The video is side on through a telephoto lens which means we really don't know how close he was to the first car, all we know is that he's further away than what it looks like.

We do know that Stewarts car missed him with the front wheels, hit him with the rear wheels and that Stewarts car was hanging the rear out.

[Soopy]

The video is side on through a telephoto lens which means we really don't know how close he was to the first car, all we know is that he's further away than what it looks like.

We do know that Stewarts car missed him with the front wheels, hit him with the rear wheels and that Stewarts car was hanging the rear out.

Yes, that's how they go around corners...

[Soopy]

Statement from Tony Stewart
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., (Aug. 10, 2014) – The following is a statement from Tony Stewart regarding the fatal accident last night during the sprint car feature at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park involving Kevin Ward Jr.
“There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. It’s a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I’ve decided not to participate in today’s race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Taken from his facebook page.

[IMOA]

Yes, that's how they go around corners...

We all understand that, The question is whether he needed to. Because to do so assumes that someone who understands the handling of those cars a hell of a lot better than you intentionally stood somewhere were a collision was inevitable. It's certainly possible but from side on, through a telephoto lens we simply can't tell how close he was.