Le Mans 24 Hours 2011 - Mike Rockenfeller Crash Audi R18 #1 (English)

[OldSchoolNascar]

I just don't like how the commentators were like reading his accomplishments like it was his death. They did the same thing with Earnhardt at Dega in '96

[MrSly98]

wait until Porsche come back and Toyota this year audis gonna be shitting themselves BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT MORE COMPETITION

[666mattyy]

@MrSly98 yeah right... lol

[sausagenmuff]

I've "heard" that a lot of the drivers don't like the diesels. but that's just the pessimist in me

[sparkplug52]

I would like to know how many of the ignorant commenters have been racing le mans in a GTE class car at 170+ mph in the dark, and how prone to mistakes they would be. None of you have the information to confirm that the Ferrari driver even saw that, if you ask me, I'd tell you to get in a car, go on the highway at night, travel around 170 mph and have your buddy flash his lights behind you, and tell me if you know exactly what angle/side/speed he is coming to pass you. Good luck.

[thelostlibertine]

I thought he was dead when I watched this live. I couldn't believe it when they said that he walked out of it unharmed

[BornAgain133]

Seriously, what is the Audi built out of? One of the lightest racers ever, and yet two drivers are able to survive massive impacts. I WANT MY HOUSE BUILT OUT OF THAT.

[deggis4]

@BornAgain133 A bit ironically the biggest ad on the Audi is advertising Audi's own "lightweight" technology. Not sure though if this is the best way to advertise it.

[TheBenyorath]

i can't believe that people are arguing over which car marque is better when a young race driver could of died?! who gives a fuck what he's driving, the important point is he ain't driving it out of that.

[Narutofan1000k]

you know a crash is bad when they cut the commercial break

[LegoRacer41]

Was that the same Ferrari that was involved with Allan McNish?

[gtsgtsgt]

@LegoRacer41 same team different car

[SuperTruth77]

My cousin is obsessed with the ‘deadliest crash’ at the 1955 Le Mans race. He goes every year with his son hoping there’ll be a repeat, saying “I’ll survive by a miracle- large sections of car will fly inches over my head, decapitating people just a few feet behind me.”

“There’ll be no ‘counselling process’ either. Officials just tell me to help clear up the gory mess, then either stay or go home. I’ve come this far to watch a race, so I smack my son to stop him crying like a girl & stay.”

[stonebeast6]

@SuperTruth77

Hmmm Your cousin must be a mental. Sorry for saying it, but that is just a sick thought. He needs some pro help

[Willis2992]

@SuperTruth77 You need help.

[TheBomberstorm]

No one is to blame for this crash.. Rockenfeller did the right thing by flashing his lights, the driver in the Ferarri was doing the right thing, by maintaining his line...

If you remember, slower cars were told to hold their line, and let faster cars go around them

[velkoto1]

Audi > Ferrari + Peugeot.

[Solar424]

Ferrari is not worse than Audi. The 458 was designed to be street legal. The Audi was a designed racecar. The Ferrari was not directly sponsored by Ferrari, because GTE AM is basically a bunch of guys turning their supercars into race cars,and racing. LMP is a bunch of guys using highly advanced technology to build a race car made out of carbon fiber, with the sole purpose of racing in an endurance race. Race a street legal Ferrari against a street legal Audi, and Ferrari will win, every time.

[SwiftHDX]

@Solar424 Ferrari's are designed for speed. Audi's are designed for comfort. You can't compare them. Besides, speed doesn't make a car better than another car.

[vette3838]

stupid gte am class just leave the driver specs alone change the car regs anyone have any of the timeline flashback parts they had later on in there brodcast

[flylxy]

Did he died?!

[cantabr0]

@flylxy no

[Eddieboote]

Audi clearly showing their intentions to overtake with flashing lights. Ferrari taking the driving line to enter the curve, therefore cutting across. Who's to blame? The result of Audi's win with the remaining car underlines their professionalism, and still their technilogical advances over rivals Peugeot. I pass on this road everyday. The damaged part of the barrier is still there even now...

[bunyantheonion]

@tamkukushka wow you need to calm down its just an opinion. Also if you read my comment properly you will see my main point is about this was a high speed crash and the first emotion of ANYONE is to be concerned for another person and it does not matter if your meant to be working these people know the speeds they travel at and hitting a barrier at such speeds is dangerous and you can not blame or call someone unprofessional for expressing concern

[sanddune1981]

The crap ferrari's should be banned from any racing, they are slow as shit

[breakgirl100]

Ferrari not that good!

[bunyantheonion]

@tamkukushka how in any way was that point made successfully i think that 3 people like my original response shows the success of your original comment

[bunyantheonion]

@tamkukushka comparing a crash to 9/11 is ridiculous and i think it is frankly insulting to the victims of that tragedy to compare the two. news anchors are not meant to show emotion, predisposition or personal judgement no matter what situation occurs commentators are much more likely to know the person involved in a crash so showing emotion is much more expected

[zZsmallbadboyZz]

i was at le mans and radio le mans said the gt cars have been told to drive the racing lines the faster cars will overtake them and you can see he is approaching the kink in the run down to Indianapolis so the right hand side is the racing line they also said that he took out 15 Armco upright post which is amazing he survived

[exiledrabbit]

WOW i watched this live but didn't notice those flashing headlights, i still think it was Rockenfeller's fault, but that ferrari should have been on it's damn toes after getting flashed like that

[goldblackngreen]

The ACO's race director excluded the driver of the Ferrari from taking any further part in the race so that's enough said in terms of where the blame lays.

[samsite84]

@goldblackngreen So it was Ferrari diver's fault? imo it was Ferrari fault.

[ktonlai]

nascar crashes are pussies compared to this

[RobForesti]

While everybody is only blaming the GT, I'm wondering if those strong flashing Audi headlights had a part in the crash. They look quite disturbing.

[MrJoshooaah]

@RobForesti i think they are used to warn GT cars, seemed to go off every time the Audi's would overtake

[Soratiru]

@RobForesti you realise that he flashed his lights so the GT car knows that he is coming?

[PKmode]

@RobForesti In addition to letting the GT car know he was going to pass, the lights are also colored differently from class to class to ensure drivers know which type of car class is coming. Obviously LMP1 and 2 are waaay faster than the GT classes. This is what happens when guys don't pay attention or are too inconsiderate to move over accordingly.

[KC8YOQ]

I did not see the other car move over into him!!!

[PKmode]

@KC8YOQ Watch it again. You can see him cross over the line into the R18s lane.

[KC8YOQ]

@PKmode Yes i watched it several times and it is very hard to see> I see just a slight movement!

[junanthony26]

they just over size there that's why they hit so easily

[cryteeek]

fucking ferrari piece of shit

[Samuel98331]

Thumbs up if you think it's ferrari's fault 

[TheSpiralZeroTheory]

@Samuel98331 Don't know how ingnorant you can get, but it appears that you have set the new standard.

[Marcuspleindpuces]

IDIOT FERRARI Driver ! Pôôr NOOB !

[SuperTruth77]

I was in the crowd (with my son) during the ‘deadliest crash’ at the 1955 Le Mans race. We survived by a miracle- a large section of Levegh’s car flew mere inches over my head, decapitating 3 or 4 people just a few feet behind us.

Let me tell you, there was no ‘counselling process’ back then. Officials just told to help clear up the gory mess, then either stay or go home. We’d come this far to watch a race & paid to get in, so I smacked my son to stop him crying like a girl & stayed.

[julesstirling]

@SuperTruth77 i think your comment is rather disrespectful to all of those who were killed in 1955 , your profile states you are 41, you were not even born when the accident happened. stop the lies and think of the unlucky people that lost their lives that day.

[carmastrikes]

ferrari drivers are massive cocks, its a fact.

[xxJb619sdxx]

Ferrari didnt want Audi to pass them for #2 in all-time overall Le Mans victories, FAIL

[TheFanaticcz]

who was driving the ferrari???

[ppella04]

robert kauffman or michael waltrip

is the second car of af corse

[vishaldutta]

Facebook poke?

[jasonking959]

two drivers survived massive wrecks and audi managed to win as well, they had the superior car for sure this year not just good strategy and luck

[Skyisnotalimit]

He was flashing it´s lights.. The ferrari driver must have been sleeping...

[ssspanzer]

fucking french

[KevDxB]

@ssspanzer Fuck you

[PhilipTheBigOne]

FUCKING HORRIBLE CRASH!!! I'm GLAD he's fine!!!

[ApSykesThewolf]

This just proves Ferrari drivers are just plain pricks D:

so they force 10+ Million dollar Prototype cars to crash D:

[kegger28]

The audi never hits it Ferrari Cause if he did would the ferrari have gone in the direction as the Audi

[RtFusion]

Wow, Mike clearly flashed his headlights multiple times and then at the last second, you see the Ferrari not giving lane, turning INTO the Audio R18 thus clipping it. What an idiotic move by that Ferrari driver.

[bunyantheonion]

@tamkukushka if you see someone crash at that high speed LIVE not on a youtube video I think professionalism goes out the window and concern for another human being is your overriding emotion

[28power68]

Ferrari and Audi were both responsible on the crash. Arrogant companies and arrogant drivers, a bad combo

[crazyrotax31]

@28power68 WTF are you talking about?? Comments like yours are a joke. They come from someone who has no idea what they are talking about because you have no personal motor racing experience. Its a motor racing incident with an extremely bad outcome for the two drivers involved.

[28power68]

@crazyrotax31 You have no idea what you're talking about

[crazyrotax31]

@28power68 13 years of competitive motor racing experience suggests otherwise

[28power68]

@crazyrotax31 I'm not buying, you're just an youtube's know it all, which by the way you don't

[crazyrotax31]

@28power68 That is the worlds thinnest argument so congrats. So many times i see the word 'youtube know it all' come up and its a pathetic way of trying to come back from your previous statements. Ive spent 7 years in karting (Honda Cadet, Comer Cadet, Jnr Max, Snr Max, Snr TKM all in National championships and club level, Endurance karting) as well as competing in various car formulas (Clios, Caterhams, Britcar, Formula Jedi). My knowledge of competing is extremely high so thank you

[MegaOptimus21]

@28power68 You know absolutely nothing, Ferrari was at fault not Audi. Flashing lights clearly says he is over taking as he has a prototype car not a stupid Ferrari. plus Ferrari cant compete at that level as Audi LOL.

[lx787x]

@MegaOptimus21 It's not completely Ferrari's fault tho, drivers have said that the LED light from the audi's are so bright that they cannot see how close they are. Also, before the race, prototype drivers said that slower cars must stick to the racing line so that they know where are they driving. It's 50/50 here the Audi driver also miss calculated it here, but also he did flash his lights. But as I said they were ordered to stick to the racing lines =/

[Charlienmeg]

@28power68 Have to agree with Crazyrotax - you haven't got a clue what you're talking about. From a 30+ years motorsports fan.

[maraneelo]

fr the team radio : All right, Kill tat Audi behind u.

[TRXtuner95]

at least the last r18 was able to avoid any more ferrari's 

[uranurbi]

VVBodoVV this is Lemans and not crash race. Ferrari´s driver is amateur and Audi R18 lights are very luminious.

[jamiec163]

Crazy bastards driving that fast at night they should put up speeding signs stick to 60mph no chance of a crash like that ;)

[MegaHawk9999]

I now officiely hate Ferrari 458`s

[dok441]

@MegaHawk9999 In the first crash i think it was allan mcnish's fault. But in this one the ferrari was simply stupid. Thanks god that Rocky, McNish and the marshals are ok.

I only hate the Ferrari with the number 71!

[joaoa13portugal]

every time the Audi tryes out a new car they got screwd x)

but this year its going really rough for them

im still watching the race (1:08:30 to finish) and the Audi is still hanging on the top positions, but Peugeot has a lot more chances of winning, i think they still have 3 cars racing for TOTAL and 1for the ORECA team (i think)

[Battlechoir5]

how could someone survive that, impossible 5:22

[ironaos]

@Battlechoir5 Thats German engineer art ... AUDI did a great job n1

[whereSR]

Ferrari probably thought that Mike may have tried to overtake them on the other side, thats what happened to Gilles Villeneuve. And remember it is late and reaction times may not be good, even though they are Racing Drivers

[SK8antonio99]

Do Ferrari drivers have sumthin wrong with Audi's the teams who caused these accidents should be disqualified

[yohwl]

Fuck this Ferrari Driver...

[no0097]

And again GT Ferrari with idiot at the wheel kills R18. So sad.

[lezbrucelee]

@no0097 its down to the over taking car to pass safely, in no way was this the ferrari's fault..... just a racing incident

[lampliter25]

@lezbrucelee it is without a doubt the ferrari's fault, rockenfeller flashed his lights with plenty of room, and instead of holding the line he was in for a slight kink in the road, the ferrari decided to hit an apex that didnt need to be hit.

[lezbrucelee]

@lampliter25 u done much racing then? it dont sound like it. its ALWAYS the over taking cars responibilty to pass safely no matter how much he flashes his lights, The GT cars are told stick to the racing line and the apex is the racing line so what else was he ment to do? If the GT cars start moving off their line to allow cars thourgh the LMP cars have to second guess where he gonna move too and you'll end up with even more accidents

[CookieMonsturrrrrrrr]

hi

[jakenathan24]

I really hope they get someone good to do the camera work next year

[ZR0Ver2]

@jakenathan24 Thats a static camera, there is no one manning it at night time.

[jakenathan24]

@ZR0Ver2 Yeah I know. But why would you not man a camera all night during a race that is on throughout the night?

[ZR0Ver2]

@jakenathan24 Its too close to the track to properly follow the cars and at night all they can see are the blinding lights coming towards it and then they are gone in an instant. That camera is only good during the day when they can zoom down the track and easily distinguish who is on the way.

[powersurge001]

@jakenathan24 i was watching live and later they showed the wreckage scene from one of the CCTV cameras on the circuit. i think it captured the whole crash, but they cant show an instant replay with the CCTV, so hopefully it will surface sometime later on...

[VVBodoVV]

Ferrari's been bribed by Peugeot :O

[thereald34dh0r53]

@VVBodoVV lol, only way the frogs can win! Go Audi

[thereald34dh0r53]

@VVBodoVV lol, only way the frogs can win! Go Audi

[gvibes69]

@thereald34dh0r53 yeah i hate the french bastard of lily quesnel ,that chauvinist ,racist bastard ,dont put lamy racing in car nº9 only for the french drivers to have the credit of a possible win ( but they dont win :)

French bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KevDxB]

@gvibes69 fuck off you lil cunt

[gvibes69]

@KevDxB that response its a response from an idiot without brain!

[KevDxB]

@gvibes69 so fuck off again then , instead of being a racist prick dumbass

[KevDxB]

@gvibes69 racist prick

[TheTCCT]

@VVBodoVV You're really idiot !

[Mc69Ronin]

Ferrari's revenge???

[powersurge001]

@Mc69Ronin it really pissed me off, these speedtv idiots were blatently blaming the ferrari for the crash, saying that it hit the audi. and then saying that alot of the GT drivers werent "experienced enough" to race the 24h and that "something has to be done". first off, its the car approaching (much faster) from behind that has to ensure he makes a safe pass. second, im pretty sure they didnt even touch, what made the audi spin was swerving onto the grass, not contact.

[powersurge001]

@powersurge001 third, all these drivers are highly experienced and le mans has been run for 79 years with multiple classes, there is no way that is going to change. the LMP drivers (especially audi) need to stop doing kamikaze manouvers and then blaming the helpless GTs for the accident. what could either ferrari have done about those 2 crashes?? the audis came barrelling into nonexistent gaps, nearly killing themselves, and also ruining other drivers races. ill be glad when peugeot wins.

[domme1909]

@powersurge001 Seriously what do you think? Where is this a Kamikaze Manouvre? The Ferrari-Driver is warned by the headlights of the Audi. The Audi is running along race line from far away from the apex of the turn. GT Cars HAVE TO LET PASS THE FASTER CARS. There is no competition between them. The McNish situation is unfortunate for all of them, it was hardly avoidable, that is racing. But your statement is just driven by partisanship and that is UGLY. Your statement misses any arguments.

[carlife2]

@powersurge001 3:10, First, Mike alerted with headlight way earlier on, then moved out of his record line, still alerting the ferrari driver. Ferrari driver had to let Audi pass. You are supposed to let faster car pass, especially in Le Mans. You should take a look at ISC and ACO rules.

Registered drivers for the ferrari car 58 aren't that experienced or experienced but not a good driver. Which kinda explains his amateurish driving at the time of accident.

[SectF1]

@powersurge001 Kamikaze maneveours, wtf? Its racing. you get it? R A C I N G, and in racing, everything can happen. its not you who has spend a lot of time in a car, where you are been pushed to the limit lap after lap after lap. Serious, stop talking shit when you dont know anything at all!

I can tell you that the Audi R18 has really poor visibility for the drivers, and that was one of the things that caused the McNish accident. Know your stuff before saying anything that stupid...

[28jaguar]

@powersurge001 not that you need it, but i'll back you up, i'm with you, good call. le mans has been like this for decades and it's nothing new. imagine having to pass on responsibilty to the lmp1, those professional and factory, drivers for executing a safe and clean overtake, no it's the gt , amateur drivers, fault. you're spot on!

[JokaPlaya]

Holy,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tha­nk God he's ok!