Indy Car Driver Rick Mears Ignited In Flames!

The commentator says it all.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Mears

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Rick
• Mears
• Indy
• 500
• race
• alcohol
• fuel
• fire
• flames
• pit
• crew
• burn

[CSpray]

I was a pit crerw member on this car. You can see me at the back of the car, directing one of the speedway firemen, and then later usin an extinguisher myself.

I HAVE NO TIME OR PATIENCE FOR THE CRETINS WHO THINK THAT THIS IS FUNNY.

[fidgetingfinch]

@CSpray Getting burned alive by something you can't see is probably one of the most terrifying things I can imagine.

[leverage1990]

I know this was a serious incident that could have been catastrophic but thanks to the commentator this looks more like a Monty Python sketch :D

[CSpray]

@paulsonj72 Herm Johnson's fire involved the entire tank of methanol (roughly 300 gallons) draining into pit lane when both the refueling nozzle and the tank valve stuck open.

[paulsonj72]

@CSpray

What happened later that summer at Michigan in the Herm Johnson pit. I remember that was an absolute doozy that caused the race to be red flagged.

[simpleearthling]

@CSpray fuck em live by the sword and all that

[CSpray]

@76WestSports Thanks for asking. The person worst injured (our team manager) does not show up in any of the videos.  He was released after about 2 weeks, and still carries some scar on his back. No one was badly disfigured.

[CSpray]

@CombatSportFan When you are right there, there is no doubt in your mind that you're dealing with a fire.  The true shame is that the Speedway was run so poorly in those days, the marshals were not properly equipped to deal with the fire. That changed immediately after this fire.

[CSpray]

@simpleearthling Nice. Let us know how you enjoy being burned the next time it happens to you.

[CSpray]

@manwell77 We ran out of water very quickly and had to use what was available. The extinguisher I grabbed was Halon, which resulted in the formation of Phosgene (mustard) gas. Fortunately, no one inhaled those fumes, and halon extinguishers have subsequently been banned. Starting at the very next race, all the teams had LOTS of water available in the pits, and Indy installed big water hoses in the pits the next year.  There were lots of lessons learned. Remember - this was 30 years ago...

[76WestSports]

@CSpray Hello. Sorry to hear you were involved in the fire. Thank goodness no one perished. I remember this as a kid and was frightened. Was the last pit crew member to be extinhguished seriously injured?

[simpleearthling]

fucking funny ,,they should have let them toast for a little longer