The death of British IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has once again raised questions about the safety of motor racing and prompted calls for the introduction of closed cockpits.
IndyCar officials announced on Monday that Wilson had died from severe head injuries he suffered in a crash at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, the previous day.
Wilson slammed into a wall after he was struck in the helmet by debris from another car he was following. He was airlifted to hospital but never regained consciousness.
As tributes began flowing in following the announcement of his death, there were renewed calls for a review of safety in the sport.
"Safety is not one of those things that because you have a clear record for a certain amount of time that you stop doing development," former race driver Eddie Cheever told ESPN.
"I think that it is time that solutions are looked for and I think it is time that the drivers got together and came up with a few ideas and I sincerely hope that some progress will be made on this issue."
Since 1966 there have been 18 deaths in IndyCar, including the series' previous incarnations as Champ Car, CART and Indy Racing League. Eight alone have come at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and all but two on ovals.
The last driver killed in IndyCar was Wilson's fellow Englishman Dan Wheldon, who died in a fiery crash at Las Vegas in 2011, a year after he had won the Indy 500 for a second time.
His death also triggered calls for safety reviews, including suggestions that open wheel racing be banned on high-speed, oval tracks, where tightly-packed cars reach speeds of 370 km/h (230 mph).
Indycar officials have introduced a raft of new safety measures over the years, including safer walls and collapsible barriers designed to cushion impact as well as installing mobile hospitals and state-of-the-art trauma centres at race tracks.
IndyCar did not make any comments immediately after announcing Wilson's death, out of respect for his family, but said they would comment in the next few days.
"We're always looking at ways to make this sport safer," Wilson's team mate Ryan Hunter-Reay said immediately after the race.
"First we had the innovation with the safer barrier. Oval tracks in general, we need to start looking into the next 20 years, maybe making the walls a little bit higher. Maybe coming up with something a little bit better than just mesh fencing and poles.
"We need to start moving forward on it. And IndyCar has always been at the forefront of safety. I give them a lot of credit for that."
Wilson's accident was reminiscent of several other incidents when drivers have been hit by debris, sparking calls for the introduction of plastic canopies to create closed cockpits.
In 2009, Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa was struck in the helmet by a spring from another car. Massa underwent surgery and made a full recovery.
In 2014, Canadian IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe was hit in the helmet by debris and suffered concussion.
"These cars are inherently dangerous with the open cockpit like that, head exposed," Hunter-Reay said.
"Maybe in the future we can work towards some type of...canopy, not a full jet fighter canopy, but something that can give us a little protection but keep the tradition of the sport."
Reuters
Tue Aug 25 2015
This file photo taken on Nov 9, 2007 shows Wilson of the CDW- RusPort Racing team in the pits during the first qualifying session for the Champ Car World Series GP in Mexico City. - AFP Photo/Files/Ronaldo Schemidt
Piala Dunia ISTAF: Skuad doubles teruskan kemaraan ke separuh akhir
Skuad doubles negara berjaya melangkah ke separuh akhir Piala Dunia ISTAF selepas mengatasi Korea 2-1 dalam perlawanan di Stadium Titiwangsa.
Warga emas hidap masalah pendengaran boleh jejas rutin harian - Pakar
Kesan hilang sensitiviti deria pendengaran bagi seorang dewasa dan warga emas memberi kesan yang berbeza.
Melaka tunggu garis panduan untuk pelaksanaan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam negeri
Kerajaan negeri Melaka sedang menunggu garis panduan berkaitan pelaksanaan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam daripada kerajaan Persekutuan.
[TERKINI] Keadaan Koperal Hasif stabil, masih dirawat di HSI
Anggota polis, Koperal Mohd Hasif Roslan yang cedera ditembak dalam serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram masih menerima rawatan di Hospital Sultan Ismail, di Johor Bahru.
BMW Malaysia catat pertumbuhan jualan 8 peratus pada suku pertama, kenaikan 26 peratus jualan EV
BMW Group Malaysia menjual sebanyak 4,300 kenderaan pada suku pertama tahun ini, mewakili peningkatan lapan peratus berbanding tempoh yang sama pada 2023.
Pegawai Imigresen mengaku tidak bersalah terima rasuah
Seorang pegawai Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia mengaku tidak bersalah atas 10 pertuduhan menerima rasuah berjumlah RM7,600.
Saksi dakwa Ebit Lew hantar mesej lucah menjelang malam
Saksi kesembilan mendakwa mesej yang diterima daripada pendakwah terkenal, Ebit Lew berunsur lucah dan mengaibkan kehormatannya sebagai wanita.
Tun Musa lancar buku Ku Li: Memoir 205, angkat perjalanan politik Tengku Razaleigh
Tun Musa Hitam melancarkan buku KU LI: Memoir 205 yang mengangkat kisah perjalanan politik lagenda politik, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pada Selasa.
Iran mulakan siasatan nahas helikopter Presiden Raisi
Iran memulakan siasatan berhubung nahas helikopter yang mengorbankan Presiden Ebrahim Raisi dan rombongannya dalam kejadian di barat laut negara itu.
AWANI Ringkas: Empat individu mengaku bersalah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Langgar belakang lori kontena, pemandu dan kelindan maut
Pemandu dan kelindan lori maut apabila kenderaan yang mereka naiki terlanggar belakang sebuah lori kontena yang rosak di Kilometer 294.4 Lebuhraya Utara Selatan arah utara di Gopeng, pagi Ahad.
Gopeng Ultra Trail: 170 sertai pencarian Mohammad Ashraf
Usaha mencari Mohammad Ashraf Hassan, 29, yang hilang ketika menyertai acara larian di Gopeng, Perak diperhebat setelah masuk hari keempat.
Pelajar Tingkatan Satu dirempuh kereta meninggal dunia
Pelajar tingkatan satu, Muhamad Nur Amier Ishak yang parah dirempuh kereta di susur jejambat Jalan Permatang Batu , Bukit Mertajam disahkan meninggal dunia kira kira jam 4.30 petang Isnin.
Six killed in Machang accident
Six people died while six others sustained multiple injuries in an accident involving two cars at Km 63, Jalan Kuala Krai-Kota Baharu near Kampung Bunut, Machang.
David Beckham, anak terlibat kemalangan kereta
Kemalangan berlaku tidak lama selepas Beckham mengambil anaknya Brooklyn dari pusat latihan Arsenal.
Malaysian students, teachers in bus crash near Perth
The crash in Perth Hills involved 13 students and eight adults from Malaysia and Indonesia. Three of them suffered broken limbs.