Dale Earnhardt Jr. at ALMS Practice Session 

Practice for Safety

Fellow racers,
 
We all saw with amazement the video of Dale Earnhardt Jr. inside the Corvette during an ALMS practice session as it burst into flames after hitting a wall and tire barrier.  He wasn't in the car more than a few seconds after the fire started, yet he came out with second degree burns in his inner thighs and his chin.
 
I can't emphasize how important it is to practice evacuating the car while being blindfolded as much as you can.  A fire retardant suit will only protect you for 8-10 seconds.  If you have Nomex under garments, you may add another couple of seconds, but that's it!!  After that, the firesuit won't be able to help you much! 
 
If you cannot get out of your racecar while fully suited, helmet on, and blindfolded in 10 seconds, you may find yourself in serious trouble if your cockpit is ever on fire.   I strongly recommend that you practice this exercise before you go to any race.  And if you think practicing in your shop undoing your harness, removing the steering wheel, unlatching the window net, getting out of the car while the car is straight up and cool is hard to do in 10 seconds, wait until you have to do it when you are fatigued, with real fire around you, and with your car bent or maybe even upside down!
 
Practice for safety as much as you practice for speed, please.