A Narrow Escape for Larson

Defying the NASCAR rules announced last Friday which necessitated the drivers to stay in the car until told to come out, Kyle Larson hardly hesitated before coming out of his car after a crash.

However, taking into consideration that Larson’s No. 42 Chevrolet was engulfed in visible flames and fumes, the incident could as well be termed as an exception. But, though Larson had vacated the car immediately after noticing the first flames, he did not leave the accident venue until an emergency rescue team had arrived.

According to reports, the car had smoke gushing into the cockpit, and without delay, his safety team radioed him to be out of the car at the soonest.

“….I had smoke in the cockpit….Once I got out I stayed as close as I could to the car. I had to get out with all of the smoke in there.” said a shocked Larson.

It was during the Sprint Cup Race at the Michigan International Speedway that Larson’s Chevrolet no. 42 had caught fire. The exact point of crashing was during noon time on Sunday while he was whizzing past the backstretch and was about to forge a turn. Right at this moment, his right front tire burst and smashed the car against the wall.

“I’ve had fires and stuff, but that was the first time I’ve ever had fumes and smoke in the cockpit…” recalled Larson at the first press meeting after the accident.

NASCAR’s new rule of keeping the driver at his position until asked to leave was formulated after Kevin Ward Jr. was killed in a similar sprint car race held at New York. Ward’s car was struck by another car driven by Tony Stewart. However, emergence of smoke and fire were listed essentially as exceptions to this rule.

Even after two accidents in a row, Larson ranked 10th in the race though, as a whole, this year he continues to be winless. Along with his team, he was trying to solidify his position for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Instead, he had to finish at 43rd position.