VeeKays group has extensive repair work to make to the vehicle to get it all set for Saturday nights 250-lap race to close the Iowa doubleheader. The teen was understandably happy to have no physical damage to overcome after the aerocreen did its job.
The NTT IndyCar Series decision to outfit its cars with a titanium halo enveloped with a thick laminate shield might have saved several lives on Friday night at Iowa Speedway.
” It was a bit scary on the reboot,” Ericsson told RACER, who ducked inside the car as pieces pelted the screen. “There was a lot of particles flying and some huge pieces was striking the aeroscreen, so it reveals IndyCar has done a terrific job with the aeroscreen. The aeroscreen was destroyed.
Pagenaud goes from last to initially in Iowa openerDaly, Newgarden split Iowa IndyCar polesFirst responses to aeroscreen cooling scoopPrior to getting significantly airborne, Hertas unimpeded nose– minus its wings– tried to spear into the left side of VeeKays cockpit, level with his helmet. With the PPG screen acting as a vertical barrier, Hertas nose was required up, moving skyward on the screen before striking the Pankl halo and flying over VeeKays Dallara DW12 chassis.
After waving off a reboot on lap 157, Ed Carpenter Racings Rinus VeeKay appeared to slow behind ultimate race winner Simon Pagenaud and transfer to the right, and behind the Dutch rookie, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Racings Colton Herta was caught in an accordion impact, launching the No. 88 Honda over the left-rear tire of VeeKays No. 21 Chevy.
” I was actually surprised, in fact; theres nothing to reveal from the impacts,” he stated. “Theres more damage done to the sidepod than the aeroscreen from the debris field that came back at Marcus.”
Behind VeeKay and Herta, particles from their automobiles shot towards Marcus Ericssons No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, however the particles was deflected by the aeroscreen.
Developed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies, and made by PPG, Pankl, and Dallara, the titanium frame bolted to the DW12s is rated to withstand loads of more than 30,000 pounds. The screen, which went through ballistic screening, warded off a two-pound metal slug fired at more than 170mph.
” It was a bit frightening on the restart,” Ericsson informed RACER, who ducked inside the automobile as pieces pelted the screen. “There was a lot of debris flying and some huge pieces was hitting the aeroscreen, so it shows IndyCar has actually done a fantastic task with the aeroscreen. They did some actually great today to safeguard me.”
After the race, Ericssons race engineer Brad Goldberg reported the aeroscreen suffered no visible damage and would be recycled for Saturdays race.
” Im extremely delighted, specifically with the safety,” he said. “I marched. I saw the entire row (slow). The aeroscreen was damaged. Thank you to IndyCar for the terrific safety cell.”
