04/20/24
July 25, 2009
Ferrari's Felipe Massa undergoes emergency surgery: Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa was airlifted to hospital during qualifying for tomorrow's Hungarian Grand Prix after a spring fell from fellow countryman Ruben Barrichello's car and struck Massa in the helmet.
posted by Mr Bismarck to auto racing at 02:45 PM - 7 comments
Holy Christ, I can't imagine having one of those springs thrown at me, more less having one hit me in the head while driving. That he was apparently conscious before he hit the tire wall is a miracle in itself. Hope he makes a full recovery...
posted by MeatSaber at 06:11 PM on July 25, 2009
The latest news is Rubens visited Massa in the hospital and reported that he will be OK. Very scary, had the spring hit him directly in the visor he obviously wouldn't have survived it. He had a big dent on the side of the helmet where it glanced off. In addition to the skull fractures, he suffered a serious concussion, but he is in stable condition after surgery. My heart sank when I saw the replay, it just brought memories of 1994 rushing back in an instant. Thank goodness he's alright, I hope we see him back on track soon.
posted by eccsport78 at 08:45 PM on July 25, 2009
I was extremely concerned after the accident as he wasn't moving. The replay is scary viewing, though amazingly he was still able to slow the car down some what! After seeing Henry Surtees' accident it was eerily similar.
Just read the latest news and his condition is now listed as "life threatening". He had a fracture to the forehead, and one to the base of his skull.
I am still extremely concerned and I think it's premature to say that he's "alright". I can't help thinking of Natascha Richardson who was "fine" and then dropped dead. Admittedly due to the accident the examination has probably been far more stringent, but it's still gravely concerning.
The spring weighed over a pound (800 grams).
Rubens was already considering retirement. I wonder if this might hasten his decision? And I wonder how he feels right now? If he blames himself at all?
Regardless, I dearly hope Massa is okay. Of the two combatants last year in the final race, I felt Massa should have been champion. (Arguably Hungary last year cost him the title.)
Scary accident, in a week where we've already seen one sad racing fatality.
Being a racing fan sucks sometimes:( Don't really give a damn about the result tomorrow now.
posted by Drood at 12:33 AM on July 26, 2009
As usual looking around the net I see there's the usual "something must be done" kneejerk reactions to this, but really it's nothing new.
I remember a camera falling off a car at Monza I think it was, which just missed hitting Berger's helmet. 1989 Brazilian GP a piece of wing narrowly missed taking Patrese's head off. I also remember a mirror falling off another car and just missing the cockpit of the car behind.
Hell, if we're talking cockpit intrusion, Wurz vs Coulthard in Melbourne in 2007 where only Wurz's quick thinking prevented him from at the very least losing his fingers as Coulthard's car rode up over the cockpit.
This happens in open wheel racing where the driver is exposed. It's rare though, thankfully. Though rather like that dark weekend at Imola in 1994, we've had two incidents very close to each other which has got people nervous and irrational.
All Surtees' unfortunate accident and now Massa's has shown is that we've become rather complacent. Not in regards to safety, as both were absolutely freak accidents, but in regards to how dangerous we regard racing. 15 years since F1's last fatal accident. (At least for its drivers. Two marshalls have been killed in that period.) Hopefully Massa won't change that and he'll be okay. (I seem to be reading conflicting reports everywhere. Some say he's okay, some say his condition is currently "life threatening".)
If I see one more "they need to start using closed cockpits" remark from some ill informed fan I may just explode. I can just see the future if that happens. Everyone will rave over how much "safer" open wheel racing is now... Right up until the first driver burns to death due to being unable to escape from a fire.
Racing is dangerous. Always will be. Given the sheer LACK of fatalities these days shows how far we've come from the horrific days of the late 60's and early 70's. I remember hearing Jackie Stewart tell a story about Monaco one year and how he saw an entry list for the previous years race and realising 25% of those on the entry list were now dead.
Those in charge must NOT over react. Act in haste, repent at leisure as the saying goes.
posted by Drood at 01:28 AM on July 26, 2009
Ferrari say that he's improved during the night, was woken up for a scan this morning which had "reassuring results" and he'll be sedated again now to allow him further time to heal.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:17 AM on July 26, 2009
It's looking good mercifully.
Renault have been suspended for the European GP for the Alonso wheel incident, which I am sure is only because of the last week. Cars have lost wheels before without punishment.
Didn't care for the race. Predicted before the weekend that Lewis would win.
Just hope Massa is able to be back in the car and racing again. It seems with almost fatal injuries it either ends your F1 career (Wendlinger for example), or spurs you on to new heights. (Hakkinen.)
posted by Drood at 07:18 PM on July 26, 2009
Film of incident.
There are reports that the spring hit Massa in the visor, penetrated and hit him above the left eye.
It's uncanny how similar this is to Henry Surtees' accident, so soon afterwards, though thankfully without the fatal ending.