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.
