NASCAR spells out guideline

Rule reinforces how to exit car

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- NASCAR has added a rule that will prohibit drivers involved in accidents to leave their cars and walk on to the track to confront other drivers, NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton announced Friday at Michigan International Speedway.

An accident last week on a dirt track in New York in which the car of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Tony Stewart hit and killed Kevin Ward Jr. played a part in the new rule, Pemberton said.

"We've demonstrated in our history we're willing to react quickly to different incidents," Pemberton said. "Things like this come up occasionally. This is one of those times where we look outside our sport and we look at other things.

"Through time, you have to recognize that you'll get a reminder, a tap on the shoulder, that there's something that may need to be addressed. We felt like it was time to address this."

The accident also prompted a review of safety protocols by the IndyCar racing series.

The guidelines instruct IndyCar drivers to stay in their vehicles after a track incident and follow safety guidelines until a safety team arrives, so long as there is no fire or other extenuating circumstance, an IndyCar spokesman said.

"IndyCar's safety guidelines and post-incident protocol are very reflective of what NASCAR put out today," IndyCar spokesman Mike Kitchel said Friday.

The new NASCAR rule -- 9-16 on-track incident racing procedures -- has been added to the rule book and applies to all of NASCAR's racing series effective immediately.

Pemberton said the new rule formalized an understanding drivers should already have had about getting out of their cars after accidents and are routinely reminded about it during prerace drivers meetings.

The new rule reads:

"During an event, if a race car is involved in an on-track incident and/or is stopped on or near the racing surface and unable to make forward progress, unless extenuating emergency conditions exist with the the race car (i.e., fire, smoke in cockpit, etc.), the driver should take the following steps:

• Shut off electrical power and, if driver is uninjured, lower window net.

• Do not loosen, disconnect or remove any driver personal safety equipment until directed to do so by safety personnel or NASCAR/track official.

• After being directed to exit the race car, the driver should proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle, or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR track official.

• At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron.

• At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle.

"All vehicles not involved in the incident or that are able to continue afterwards should slow down to a cautious speed ... use extreme care as they approach an incident scene and follow any directions given by safety personnel or NASCAR/track officials. Cars in line behind safety car should not weave or otherwise stray from the line in the vicinity of the incident."

"I think it's probably good to spell it out," driver Matt Kenseth said. "It's something we probably also know. After you get wrecked and know you can't continue, you have to get out and see what it looks like, even if you're not mad.

"We haven't thought about it for a long time. You don't even think about those other cars going by and the slowest they are at a place like Pocono is 70 [mph]. Anybody who has changed a tire along an interstate knows that's still pretty fast and things can happen."

Ward Jr. and Stewart tangled in Turn 2 of the half-mile track at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, with Ward's car spinning into the wall and placing the race under caution. Ward left his car and walked down the track, gesturing toward Stewart as his car came toward Ward. The right side of Stewart's car hit Ward, knocking him several yards down the track. Ward was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Stewart is not racing this weekend at MIS, where the Pure Michigan 400 is scheduled for Sunday. He is being replaced by Jeff Burton in Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 14 Chevy. Stewart also skipped last Sunday's NASCAR race at Watkins Glen, N.Y., the day after the accident in New York.

After a week off, the IndyCar series resumes its schedule Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile. Qualifying is scheduled for this evening. Will Power holds a four-point edge over teammate Helio Castroneves on the driver leaderboard.

It is the first of the three final races of the season, and the first IndyCar race since Ward was killed. Kitchel said IndyCar extended its deepest sympathies to the family of Ward, whose funeral was Thursday.

"If you're in motorsports, we've been all been through this and unfortunately we've all been through it multiple times," he said.

He called safety an evolutionary process in racing, whether it affects fans, drivers, crews or spectators.

"It doesn't matter the series," Kitchel said. "We're always looking to ensure safety of drivers, teams and spectators."

Information for this article was compiled from the Charlotte Observer and The Associated Press.

Sports on 08/16/2014

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