People on that corner are saying they heard him hit the accelerator which caused him to fish tail into him. He was on course to go around the corner normally like everyone else was.
Tony Stewart just killed a guy
- Thread starter Feeky Magee
- Start date
People on that corner are saying they heard him hit the accelerator which caused him to fish tail into him. He was on course to go around the corner normally like everyone else was.
I think a driving expert and a forensics expert between them should be able to deduce whether the car took an unusual path before impact if given access to both the car and the track.
Stewart initially released a statement saying he would still race on Sunday following Ward Jr's death.
But he has now changed his mind, saying he "feels strongly" he should not take part.
Stewart said "there aren't words" to describe his sadness over the fatal incident.
He said "my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy".
The driver added: "It's a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I've decided not to participate in today's race at Watkins Glen."
But he has now changed his mind, saying he "feels strongly" he should not take part.
Stewart said "there aren't words" to describe his sadness over the fatal incident.
He said "my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy".
The driver added: "It's a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I've decided not to participate in today's race at Watkins Glen."
Worth pointing out that Tony Stewart once got out of his car so he could throw his helmet at an oncoming car.
Is there no computer tracking the pressing of accelerator and braking pedals?
It's strange that the one car which hit and killed Ward was the one being driven by the person Ward was angry with. Who knows, this may simply be a tragic accident. It would be better for everyone if it is proved to be just that, including the family of the dead man.
Wasn't this in an episode of CSI?
Stewart seems like a bit of a hothead. Wouldn't be surprised if he spontaneously ran him over.
It's not strange at all, Ward was angry with Stewart so he tried to confront him... while he was driving. He got hit because he was a fecking moron who was wandering around a live race track, in the dark, wearing all black.
I have no sympathy for this dumbass, I congratulate him on his Darwin award.
What an idiot. The guy has just died. Whether it was his fault or not this is no way to be talking about him.
Horrific.
Ridiculous.
He hit him with the right hand side of his car though? So if he turned right, and hit him with the right side of his car, then he wouldn't have hit him at all if he continued driving straight...right?
The guy's a complete fool obviously but it doesn't look good.
WOW you are just full of the milk of human kindness, well full of something, FFS and man died , even if it was his fault, which I am not convinced it was 100% show some compassion.
Let's not draw any conclusions
Those high reved NASCAR car are running in super high speed, and to fully break / tilt / swerve would not be as easy as in normal condition, if you're running at 80mph one quick swerve would not swerve your car, but it will tilt your car and causes serious accident.
Those high reved NASCAR car are running in super high speed, and to fully break / tilt / swerve would not be as easy as in normal condition, if you're running at 80mph one quick swerve would not swerve your car, but it will tilt your car and causes serious accident.
What about compassion for Stewart? His career, reputation, and life will probably be ruined if not at least affected by a stupid guy (although tragically died) who stands in the middle of a live high speed race.
Let's give both equally benefit of doubt and refrain from calling anyone a murderer or manslaughter before things were made clear
Okay, I might have been a little harsh, but I was getting frustrated with posts like these. Of course it's Kevin Wards fault, absolutely no doubt about it. It's not like Stewart drove off the track to mow him down, Ward left his car and walked into the path of oncoming cars so he could have a go at Stewart - who was travelling at ~70mph. Of course I don't like to see anyone die, but what kind of idiot does that?
Depends on if Stewart's car was at an angle relative to the track. Lots of trajectories that would ensure a collision by some part of the car, regardless of Stewart's actions.
Some people do daft things in a situation like that. He was probably already on an adrenaline high from the race before the crash, and then after the impact he'd furious with Stewart, maybe even slightly disorientated or concussed. His head would be a whirlwind of chemical imbalances. With all of that going on, trying to think rationally would be last on his list of things to do in his last few moments.
My question is where were the race stewards when all of this was going on? In F1 you see drivers getting out of their cars after a crash and sometimes being just as angry. The difference there is that almost immediately there's someone level-headed beside them escorting them to safety.
Not until it is determined if a crime was actually committed. Yes someone died, but it might turn to have been just a horrible accident.
Tony loves to race. He also loves sprint car racing alot and is trying to elevate it in the public's eye.
Given the caution flag was out, I am not sure he was going that fast. Some stories claiming the speed was probably only 30 to 35 mph at the time.
This actually happened at a track less than a hour from where I live. As of the last reports I saw no charges are pending, though the investigation is still under way. Among the issues being looked at are the lighting on that part of the track, track conditions and the actions of both Stewart and Ward in the moments before impact.
Side note: Last year Tony raced here also and was involved in an accident that left a competitor with an injury to her vertibrae.
Side note: Last year Tony raced here also and was involved in an accident that left a competitor with an injury to her vertibrae.
They are trying to get all the video evidence they can. I would imagine having multiple angles would help determine what actually happened and help verify the movements of Tony's car and Ward.
Probably not, these are not big money competitions and competitors.
Senseless waste of life, so tragic. I think any jury would find it difficult to find, beyond all reasonable doubt, that Stewart intentionally did this.
It won't get that far in a criminal trial, I doubt charges will be brought unless some other evidence comes to light. Reading one article suggests that witnesses are saying Tony did not swerve towards Ward, but that his car did fish tail.
Now a civil trial, of which I think there is a chance there will be one where the track, Tony and any race officals get sued, well the burden of proof is different and that might go another way.
Fair point not my intention to call him a murderer.
My apologies for any offence caused.
I don't know that style of racing has always been absolutely mental. I'm surprised more people aren't killed.
Saw some quotes from a driver that was a couple of cars behind Stewart. He saw the whole thing and basically said Stewart did everything he could to avoid Ward. Says he probably didn't see him until the last second and with those types of cars you steer wit the back as you would with the front hence why Stewart gassed it also at the last second. I feel for the father and the family...no one should lose a child at such a young age, but Ward should of never gotten out of his car and proceeded to get in the way of oncoming traffic. He should of took his cause to the pits. The car that was in front of Stewart barely missed Ward as well.....I know the father wants answers and someone to pay for his loss but Stewart didn't do this purposely. It was an accident.
Do these cars not have the same level of telemetry as F1 cars? Surely somebody should be able to sit down and see what the driver input was in terms of where he steered, accelerated, braked etc etc, and ascertain from there whether his action was evasive.
I don't know anything about the sport, or the drivers involved, but I find it hard to believe that a driver would intentionally mow down an opponent.
I don't know anything about the sport, or the drivers involved, but I find it hard to believe that a driver would intentionally mow down an opponent.
I don't believe so, those cars are as hillbilly as it gets in racing.
well I didn't want to be disparaging.