Newman got help in mere seconds
NASCAR releases initial findings of accident review
LAS VEGAS — A paramedic was treating Ryan Newman inside his car 35 seconds after the ruined and flaming vehicle came to rest following a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500.
NASCAR gave a brief timeline Saturday of the response to Monday night’s airborne accident that was so startling many drivers feared him dead. Newman hit the wall, his car went airborne, was hit by another car to send it airborne a second time, rolled upside down and landed on its roof in flames.
NASCAR said the first fire responder arrived 19 seconds after Newman’s car stopped. A trauma doctor was at the car 33 seconds later and a paramedic entered two seconds later.
Newman was then treated for more than three minutes, NASCAR said. It took roughly two minutes to overturn the car, during which time Newman was still being assisted and the treatment continued as the roof was cut away. The 42year-old driver was removed from the car 15 minutes, 40 seconds after it stopped.
NASCAR revealed its findings from a review that began Tuesday when the cars of Newman and Corey LaJoie, the driver who hit Newman’s car on the driver’s side, arrived at the North Carolina Research and Development Center.
NASCAR said it could not discuss Newman’s health, citing federal privacy laws.
Despite the violence of the crash, the Indiana native nicknamed “Rocketman” walked out of a Florida hospital holding the hands of his two young daughters some 42 hours later.
Ross Chastain is scheduled to drive Newman’s No. 6 Ford on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Newman’s 649-consecutive races streak dating to the 2002 Daytona 500 will end.
Newman has yet to speak publicly and his team has said nothing about his injuries or his status. Roush Fenway Racing said he was in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries late Monday night, but Newman progressed so quickly he left the hospital faster than the team could post updates.
Several competitors
have talked or texted with Newman and said his wit remains intact, with many making lighthearted jokes at his expense. Many marveled how one of the toughest guys in the garage seemingly walked away unscathed, needing nothing more than his daily fix of Krispy Kreme donuts to get out of the hospital.
NASCAR also wants to speak to Newman. Its crash report was limited because it wants feedback from Newman, who has an engineering degree from Purdue University.
Newman, the 2008 Daytona 500 winner, has been involved in several rolls at superspeedways. He has been outspoken about safety and has been fined by NASCAR for criticism it deemed excessive.
Newman also advocated for more support in the cockpit for protection during rollovers. A device now referred to as the “Newman bar” is standard.
“Ryan’s feedback in this will be key,” NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell said.
Harvick defends Busch
Some levity returned to NASCAR on a rainy Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
As drivers idled inside waiting for the eventual cancellation of qualifying for Sunday’s race, Kevin Harvick went on Twitter to defend reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Busch’s participation in the Truck Series.
Busch won Friday night at Las Vegas to extend his streak of Truck Series victories to seven consecutive dating to 2018. NASCAR limits how often Cup regulars can participate in lower levels, with Busch limited to just five Truck Series races a year.
When a fan complained about on Twitter about Busch’s participation, Harvick first pointed out that Busch racing five times helps fund the entire Kyle Busch Inc. team. Then he upped the ante by offering $50,000 to any Cup driver who can win one of the four remaining Truck Series races on Busch’s schedule.