On the Right Track
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Gluck
Viewing Carlos Pardo wreck a sobering experience
A few days had passed since the horrifying wreck that killed NASCAR Mexico Series driver Carlos Pardo, and I had yet to see the video.
I felt conflicted about it. Friends had told me the footage was unbelievable, but I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to watch a wreck that I knew resulted in someone’s death.
There’s some sort of guilt associated with watching videos like that. It’s partly from a morbid curiosity, the same kind of thing that makes people slow down and look at accidents on the freeway.
Eventually, I decided that watching the video was probably necessary. Not something to enjoy or use for entertainment, but as something that should be viewed very seriously.
The video – which can be found in several places on YouTube –- is truly shocking. Pardo was leading the race when he was turned by another competitor, which made the side of his car go straight into a badly-placed pit road barrier at full speed.
Pardo’s car hit the water barrels and instantly disintegrated, the roof fluttering in the air, pieces and parts everywhere. There was seemingly little left.
My jaw dropped. I shook my head. Sometimes you see wrecks like Carl Edwards’ flight at Talladega and get excited because it was so cool.
This wreck was just sad and tragic. Fortunately, viewers were spared from actually seeing close-up shots of Pardo inside the car.
But the broadcast kept rolling and showed Pardo’s wife running around, not knowing where to go or what to do with herself. It was heartbreaking.
What especially bothered me was some of the YouTube clips from Mexican television shows seeming to dramatize the wreck, showing replay after replay after replay and playing dark, foreboding music like “The Insider” would do for a Hollywood scandal.
To some people, I’m sure there was a “wow” factor to the video and nothing more. Being so involved in racing, the experience of watching it sunk my mood and left an impression on me.
I don’t regret watching it; I’m glad I did. Every now and then, it’s good to have a reminder of how dangerous this sport can be.
Jeff Gluck
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Jeff Gluck has covered NASCAR since 2004. He has worked for NASCAR Scene as an associate editor since 2007.
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Comments
7 responses to " Viewing Carlos Pardo wreck a sobering experience ". Post a Comment.
OSUSam said:
Jun 20, 2009 at 2:20 PMSeeing that accident just makes you appreciate how safe the racing is here in the states. It's a shame that those drivers, who are as passionate about the sport in Mexico as they are in the states, have to drive at tracks that are that unsafe. It was just a matter of time, with the way the wall was angled, until something tragic happened. So sad.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
Jun 20, 2009 at 5:32 PMyou see thi is why nascar strives to make safer cars you can blame them for everything else but one thing you cant say is that their #1 PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE ALL DRIVERS ARE SAFE here in the states. its time nascar gets their partners on track and mandates the rules for safety they have here in the states good god i feel for his wife who was so hysterical it was just saddening
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» Confirm Abuse Reportcathyrrooks said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 12:53 PMJeff I had pulled this up on You Tube as well! OMG it was horrible! I feel so sorry for his family! Yes this is a dangerous sport and just like Flying Carl at Talladega, that could have been a lot worse than it was!!
Report as AbuseMichael McDowell last year when he barrel rolled, I just knew he was going to be hurt bad! Thank God NASCAR here is so saftey cautious! Maybe Mexico will get better now! It was a shame that is took Dale, Sr. life before they came out head restraint.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportknchevy41 said:
Jun 23, 2009 at 10:11 PMI agree #3! 3! 3!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportcwilcox said:
Jun 24, 2009 at 4:57 PMTheir cars seem to be made of aluminum! I could not fathom one of our Cup cars disentegrating like that!! However, hitting a wall at THAT angle? Hmmm....I don't know. That is an EXTREMELY dangerous wall there, and no track in the States would have that now!!! Thank you, Nascar, even though you are so darned irritating at so many other matters and issues at hand, THANK YOU for the safety issues you have mandated for our drivers and for all the other things you've done to make it safer for them, the track workers, and fans!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbmontecarlo99 said:
Jun 28, 2009 at 2:17 PMIf this series truly is owned by Nascar and carries the Nascar Mexico Series banner why are they not under the same safety regulations just as they would here in the states? Puzzling
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRon Mick said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 6:12 AMUnfortunatly this could happen in the US series also. Yes the COT is much better but a high differential speed impact in the side will still produce horrifing results. NASCAR needs to examine every race track for obsticals that can cause this type of scenaro. These most common areas are the inside wall access openings but some tracks still have outside gates that are potential problems as well. Think of Bristol and the Harmon and Waltrip crashes. Jeff Gordon was lucky last year that he hit with the nose of the car and not the side. It would have been quit likley that his carrer would have ended right there. ANd that was one of the newer race tracks.
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