SAFER Barrier SAFER barrier

safer barrier @ talladega superspeedway

after mixed results peds barrier, indianapolis motor speedway contacted engineers @ university of nebraska-lincoln starting in fall of 1998, in order spearhead development of new barrier. dean sicking @ midwest roadside safety facility led project, sponsored , bankrolled indy racing league, support nascar.

with primary goal of reducing driver impact, project had following objectives:

a device have flush surface – prevent catch , pivot or wrapping scenarios.
a device able retro-fitted existing concrete walls @ multitude of speedways across country, each had varying existing conditions.
prevent car bouncing racing surface , oncoming traffic.
be able withstand both open wheel indy cars , heavy nascar stock cars (since many tracks hosted both series)
a device repaired after impact – preventing lengthy delays during event.
cost-effectiveness

the safer barrier development completed in spring of 2002, , first installed @ indianapolis motor speedway in may 2002, in time 2002 indianapolis 500. first tested robby mcgehee in crash during first day of practice.

after successful usage @ indianapolis, system began installed @ several other tracks nationwide. 2006, every oval facility hosted irl indycar series or nascar sprint cup series event included safer barrier. in 2006, iowa speedway became first racetrack install safer barrier extends around outer circumference of track, rather retrofit 1 concrete wall in turns. oval speedways more mile in length in united states have since installed system.

an interesting challenge presented dover international speedway. when officials came install barrier, found wall, made of steel , not concrete, not support system. officials able install system on inside concrete wall successfully. after re-design , further testing, system installed year , half later.

the barrier received first road course usage when watkins glen international adopted safer barrier key sections of circuit, notably in bus stop chicane , turn 11 2010. international road , street track adoption safer barrier has progressed gradually. typically installed on high speed cornering sections, space runoff areas or gravel traps limited , side impacts of concern. notable uses include:

circuit de la sarthe: porsche curves (2016)
autódromo josé carlos pace: turn 14 (2010)
baku city circuit: turns 13, 19 (2016)
circuit gilles villeneuve: turn 5 (2017)




^ smith, luke (2016-05-20). safer barrier set introduction @ le mans . motorsportstalk. retrieved 2017-07-02. 
^ new soft wall installed @ interlagos . gpupdate.net. retrieved 2017-07-02. 
^ horton, phillip. formula 1: minor tweaks @ baku ahead of azerbaijan gp . motorsport week. retrieved 2017-07-02. 
^ key upgrades montreal formula 1 track . motorsport.com. retrieved 2017-07-02.