NASCAR: Christopher Bell crash hardest impact in at least a decade
Motorsport.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Christopher Bell experienced the hardest impact recorded in the NextGen car's history during a crash on Lap 148 at Michigan International Speedway, involving contact with Chase Elliott and resulting in significant SAFER Barrier damage.
- The crash's severity was measured using Delta-v, representing the change in velocity during impact, with Bell's incident being the highest recorded since 2015, according to NASCAR safety officials.
- NASCAR explained the difference between Delta-v and G-forces, emphasizing that both measurements are important for understanding crash forces and injury potential, with injury risk also depending on the duration of high G-forces.
- Bell sustained a fractured left wrist and undisclosed ankle injuries but has been medically cleared to race at Pocono Raceway after evaluations by his personal and NASCAR medical teams.
- NASCAR conducted thorough safety reviews of Bell's car and the SAFER Barrier post-crash, focusing on improvements like head surround foam thickness, which played a key role in protecting Bell during the impact.