John Force Kenny Bernstein crash, Force injured

[VintageMusclecar]

Just heard on the NASCAR race, there's a short blurb on the NHRA website if you can get it to open:

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/24436.htm

So far, Force with a broken arm + both legs, possible concussion, Bernstein OK

[x Baldwin Motion]

here's the text;

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/290965/Main/290965/#Post290965

[VintageMusclecar]

Looks like we posted at the same time.

[x Baldwin Motion]

at least there are two of us watching the race http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[ANDY M]

http://www.nhra.com/index.asp
Try this.

[427.060]

Here is the video.
James

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3033159

[427TJ]

Looks like Force had rear tire failure that swerved him to the right?

[SUSQ]

I'm gettin' old and my eyes aren't what they used to be but it looks as if Bernstein may have touched one of the orange markers in the middle of the track and sent it into Force(?)

[markjohnson]

It's hard to tell from that angle and I'm sure there were other cameras, but it kinda looks like Bernstein's car kicked that timer box under Force's rear tire. Anybody seen a different view yet that can elaborate maybe?

[Belair62]

Unbelievable amount of energy to tear that car in half.

[NCGuy68]

Bernstein's comments are on www.NHRA.com (http://www.NHRA.com)

[x Baldwin Motion]

Transcript of Bernstein's comments:

"I'll take you through the run the best I can. It was a good leave. The car was running fine through there. It got towards the centerline; about halfway down it started moving over. I kept turning and correcting as hard as I could and it just kept sticking over there right next to that centerline. Right at the finish line I said, 'Man I think this thing's gonna catch the cone,' and I guess I did with the rear tire. I just couldn't get it to come back.

"At the finish line I basically lifted the throttle and hit the parachutes at the same time, that's my procedure there. As soon as I hit the parachutes, out of the corner of my eye I saw John's black car coming towards me. It was coming over and it just hit me. We were wadded up together for a second or so there and I all I could see was nothing because there were bodies coming apart and coming up in front of you and taking your eyesight away.

"I remember seeing my body up there and driving through it and then his body. When I came out of that I saw John's car going towards the wall and it hit the wall really, really hard.

"I was a little out of control at that time. It was kind of teeter-tottering on turning over or not turning over. I was just trying to steer it and go as straight as I possibly could. Then it finally settled down and stayed on all fours. Right when I got ready to stop I saw something again out of the corner of my eye and it was the chassis and the engine, the front half of the car, passing me on the right side. I was trying to figure out what I was seeing. I let my car roll to get up there to see if I could help him but he wasn't even there. When I got out I saw all the commotion back up the track and I realized that piece that went by was just the front half of the car.

"I guarantee you something happened. John Force isn't gonna run over anybody unless something causes it. Something takes place that causes a driver to do what he does. Something had to happen. Even though I had my hands full right against that centerline as a driver you know you can't go across that and you're gonna do whatever you can to keep from it. So I certainly think something happened to his racecar.

"At that part of the racetrack you're under control down there in the sense of the word. All the stuff's over with other than the fact you're getting to the finish line. You're going pretty straight at that point in time so I would say something happened to that racecar. To come across and collect me, it definitely had to have something happen.

"I don't think I did (cross into Force's lane.) I sure don't feel like I did. I never have felt that way. I have to look at the film. I know I was close to the center but I don't think I ever went across it with the entire car. Jimmy Walsh [crew chief] went down there and looked at the tracks and the rear tire hit the last cone. But I was totally under control when I reached up to pull the parachutes. I just thought I'd given the race away.

"I actually saw him coming my way. I saw the front of his car pointed towards me. I actually saw that. Now I'm not talking 90 degrees, but certainly a 45. For him to come across to where you can see it, he's got to be pretty far across on you. Otherwise you would never see him.

"I got a ride way back down the course and when he was on the stretcher he was saying, 'Did I hit anybody?' They were telling him 'It's okay, John,' and I went up and said 'John, it's Bernstein, I'm okay.' He was a little delirious because he kept asking if he hit me so I don't know how much he'll remember.

"On my side, physically I'm fine. I did have a little big of a headache right when I stopped and that's from my head going back and forth in the roll cage. Because of John's work in that area, putting those extra pads up in there, it's not as bad and I'm thankful for that. If it had been the old pads, I'd a had a lot worse headache. It was pretty violent when we got together."

[Belair62]

If you catch that video and pause it at the right second it looks like the timer box flew over but a cone SHOT out towards the rear of Forces car. One comment on the ESPN video site was that the cone hit Forces chutes causing them to open and all hell broke loose. Hard to tell but I bet they will get to the bottom of it...Hope he heals quickly. Best F.C pilot ever.

[GRB]

I don't believe Bernstein's crossing the center line (which sent debris into Force's car) and the resulting crash are isolated incidents. When the debris hit Force's RR tire it disentegrated and Force's car naturally went dead right.

[Xplantdad]

Berstein hits the timer box which is launched into Force's rear tire...disinigrating it and starting to tear the body apart...at the same time his chute opens and rips the frame in half...sending the front part of it into Bernstein... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[BARNFOUND YENKO]

John's right knee was abrated down to the bone grinding off the ligaments and tendons that hold it together, possibly a career ending injury, our prayers go out to him and his family.

[Xplantdad]

Here is the latest...from NHRA.com

[ QUOTE ]
Update: 6:20 p.m. Sunday: Doctors updated John Force's family and team following a thorough evaluation of his multiple injuries and the prognosis for a full recovery is very good.

Force sustained a broken left ankle and severe abrasion on his right knee. Force's left wrist also was dislocated and broken and he sustained some severe abrasions and slight fractures on a number of fingers on his right hand.

Throughout all procedures Force was alert and responsive. CAT scans performed came back negative and showed no damage other than the injuries to his legs and hands. Surgeons will begin cleaning a number of his injuries tonight and possibly setting his fractures if the swelling is at an acceptable level.



[/ QUOTE ]

[Xplantdad]

Again the latest from NHRA.com

[ QUOTE ]
Monday, 1:30 a.m. Central: Good news from Baylor University Medical Center where doctors operating on 14-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force were able to set his broken left ankle and determined that his wrist was not broken but just severely dislocated.

According to teamspokesman Elon Werner, doctors inserted three pins into Force's ankle to set it, and also inserted three temporary pins to stabilize his wrist.

Force came through the surgery well. A full update will be issued by the team midday Monday


[/ QUOTE ]

[mockingbird812]

Thank goodness. It was very fortunate that there was no fire to compound the mishap.

[Canucklehead]

I could just imagine the interview once he gets better. Man that guy can talk!!

[ORIGLS6]

I liked what Greg Anderson said. "He's our Dale Earnhardt".

Great news that they expect a full recovery. Say what you like about John Force, but "Bottom Line", http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif he's an entertainer! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Xplantdad]

And a really nice guy who does a lot for special needs kids...as he was one as a child (polio). http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[BUIZILLA]

sure looks like the left rear tire exploded to me... I don't think the cone caused anything

[NCGuy68]

Something tells me he'll come back, drive again and then MAYBE retire as a pilot. He isn't the type to go out on a negative note. Crew chief for Ashley has always been in the cards.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

John force is a really down to earth guy.He was at the Houston Autorama in 1999 and I got to meet and talked to him for about 30 minutes.I had my 1967 Chevelle in the show and he was checking it out pretty close,we let him come through the ropes to look at it closely.We took some pictures of him there but for some reason that roll of film was defective and the pictures were total garbage.He used to have a 67 Chevelle SS as a young man.He loves hot rods.I went to watch the Nationals at Houston Raceway park 2 years after the autorama and he remembered me as the guy with the Blue 67 SS Chevelle.He couldn't recall my name but he remembered me owning the car.I wish him a speedy recovery and I agree I think he will be back for a little bit then give someone else a chance to pilot the car.I am just glad he was not hurt anymore than he was.From viewing the video it looks like to me that debris hit the tire on Johns car causing the destruction process.All it takes is just a little debris to tear one of those tires up and at those speeds with that much torque anything can happen.I am sure we will hear much more from NHRA officials as to the cause of the accident.

[Xplantdad]

This is John and Ashley...with Larry (The guy with the extremely fast white Nova out of OCIR) Larry doesn't know I have this picture either...LOL

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/World%20of%20Wheels%202006/Sunday/tn_DSCF2744.jpg

And here is Ashley on the Viper Boss

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/World%20of%20Wheels%202006/Sunday/tn_DSCF2741.jpg

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
sure looks like the left rear tire exploded to me... I don't think the cone caused anything

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I was thinking too. That cone flew across the track but it looks like it went behind Force's car. Time will tell.

[ORIGLS6]

Probably not the cone, but more likely one of the photocells or another piece of the timing equipment. Once one of those tires comes apart it rips up everything around it. That's what ripped the rear part of the body apart, and activated the chutes.

[Verne_Frantz]

That's the way it looked to me Dennis. As soon as that cone (or what-ever was with it) hit the tire, it exploded. Bernstein also seemed to be all over the track and appeared to cross the centerline earlier in the race as well. I guess he didn't know he did that, or he should have shut down right away and saved his equipment, knowing he'd be disqualified anyway.

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[NCGuy68]

Bernstien said he tried to keep his car going straight.

See his comments at www.NHRA.com (http://www.NHRA.com)

[Verne_Frantz]

Thanks for posting that Craig. The article also said that from other angles viewed, the cone went behind the tire. Too hard to tell from a front view..

Verne

[GRB]

Somebody will have a picture. Those tires don't normally just explode on their own.

[Verne_Frantz]

In the comments by Force on the NHRA site, he said his chassis came apart. I"ve heard they're changed chassis designs to address the tire shake issue, and they may have also incorporated a "break-away" feature to get the driver away from the engine in the event of a serious accident. Just repeating what I"ve heard...

Venre

[SS427]

That is fact as they did redesign it after their driver was killed earlier this year. It was designed to seperate just behind the rear engine plate. Now the question is did the tire explode causing the chassis to seperate or did the chassis seperate prematurely causing the tire to explode? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[GRB]

They will find out why the tire let go eventually. If they don't it won't be from lack of effort. I don't think Force was running one of the new break away chassis'. The fact that Bernstein hit the cones and timer shortly before Force's rear end and tire exploded may be coincidental...but probably not. They probably can't prove that from the remains of the incident so they have to hope somebody will come up with a photo taken at just the right instant.

[mockingbird812]

Failure analysis will reveal a bunch about what happened and in what sequence. They will take a look at the mishap remains and use things like scanning electron microscopes to help them figure things out. Believe it or not, the pictures and video are very helpful, but the real hard evidence is derived from this analysis. They can determine if something failed due to fatigue or an outside source.

[GRB]

Failure analysis will be very difficult especially in the area of tire failure. If the event could have been analyzed at the point of failure or immediately after the event meaningful data could have been found. The problem is similar to Firestone/Ford's problem with the Explorer. There is so much damage that occurs at 300mph after a tire failure that it is impossible to tell what damage occurred before or after the failure.

[mockingbird812]

Failure analysis is routinely done in military and civilian aviation mishaps with speeds well in excess of 300 mph and routinely provides useful info to the investigation teams. They will look at more than just the obvious, i.e. tires, but each component recovered after the mishap will be considered for the analysis. From the videos it all looks chaotic and violent, but you would be surprised at what the teams can reconstruct.

[GRB]

Bernstein crossing the line and throwing debris toward Force at 300+ MPH while almost simultaneously Force's car virtually explodes. Correlated or coincidence? I hope we find out.