Heard a lot about how NASCAR driver Tony Stewart hit fellow driver Kevin Ward intentionally. From the first, the claim is idiotic. But since so many seem to cling to it, based on their own misinterpretation of an amateur video taken from the other side of the track...and with no understanding of dirt racing and the physics/dynamics of a sprint car...here is one of the clearest explanation of what happened I've read, by Scott:
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After reading nearly every article out there and watching the video about a dozen times...
1) Engine Rev -- The claims that you can hear Stewart's engine rev right before impact are false. If you notice in the beginning of the video, the person shooting the footage is sitting just past the finish line in the straight away. The collision happened on the far side of the turn. Any engine noise you hear is from the cars passing through the straight away. If you don't believe me, watch the video again and see if you hear even the slightest noise of the initial impact with the wall. There is none. This amateur camera's mic is not sensitive enough to pick that up. The notion that you could hear a single engine revving from the far side of the track when other cars are much closer to the camera is just plain wrong. Keep in mind that the video is shot on maximum zoom from probably about 80+ yards away. Bottom line, that engine sound is very likely from a different car closer to the camera.
2) Acceleration -- Watch the video just before Stewart makes contact and gauge the speed of the two cars that pass Ward before Stewart. The first car (two cars before Stewart) passes much closer to Ward and at a higher rate of speed. The second car (just before Stewart) passes at approximately the same speed as Stewart. I've heard numerous reports that Stewart accelerated while the rest of the pack had slowed down, and that is just plain false from the video footage I've seen.
3) Fish tail -- Slow down the video and you'll see that the fish tail happened AFTER impact. And the nose of Stewart's car actually turned up the track away from the infield. This is exactly what would happen if the right rear tire of any vehicle ran over a large bump, and it's exactly opposite of what would happen in a sprint car if you juiced the throttle. If Stewart's car's nose had turned down and the rear fishtailed up, then it would support the theory that he gunned the throttle*. However, the video shows the opposite.
4) Point of impact -- Ward had to dodge two cars trying to get to Stewart. Contrary to reports, he did not "march" down the track toward Stewart. He actually had a do a little dance to stay out of the way of the other cars. It was obvious that he was making a beeline toward Stewart and was going to get as close as he could. If Stewart were trying to mow him down, he could have done so easily and likely would have struck him with the front of the car. The fact that it was either the right rear tire or wing that struck Ward indicates that it was Ward moving toward the car, not Stewart moving toward Ward that was the primary cause of the collision. My guess is that Ward was planning to smack the hood of the car or shout into the right window, but he got too close and misjudged the speed of the car.
5) Stewart's temper -- I've watched Tony race for years, and yes, he has a temper. (Not that it's an excuse, but so do about 75% of other NASCAR drivers). But here's what I don't get. In 99.9% of altercations over the years, Tony lost his temper after HE was wrecked. I have never seen Tony get angry or do anything reckless after he was the person who put someone into a wall. The idea that Tony was so angry that he drove all the way around the track and then came back and mowed the guy down just doesn't add up. I can see why Ward would be angry if he felt Tony had wrecked him. But it simply doesn't make sense (and is inconsistent with past examples) for Tony to be angry with Ward (and certainly not enough to run him down).
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and...
"Stewart did not gun it to hit his guy on purpose much less 'scare' him as those like you seem to being saying, and it's ludicrous to imply or state otherwise. They are racers, not gang bangers."
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So can the internet lynch mob shut the fuck up now?
Thank you.
/gun
_________________
After reading nearly every article out there and watching the video about a dozen times...
1) Engine Rev -- The claims that you can hear Stewart's engine rev right before impact are false. If you notice in the beginning of the video, the person shooting the footage is sitting just past the finish line in the straight away. The collision happened on the far side of the turn. Any engine noise you hear is from the cars passing through the straight away. If you don't believe me, watch the video again and see if you hear even the slightest noise of the initial impact with the wall. There is none. This amateur camera's mic is not sensitive enough to pick that up. The notion that you could hear a single engine revving from the far side of the track when other cars are much closer to the camera is just plain wrong. Keep in mind that the video is shot on maximum zoom from probably about 80+ yards away. Bottom line, that engine sound is very likely from a different car closer to the camera.
2) Acceleration -- Watch the video just before Stewart makes contact and gauge the speed of the two cars that pass Ward before Stewart. The first car (two cars before Stewart) passes much closer to Ward and at a higher rate of speed. The second car (just before Stewart) passes at approximately the same speed as Stewart. I've heard numerous reports that Stewart accelerated while the rest of the pack had slowed down, and that is just plain false from the video footage I've seen.
3) Fish tail -- Slow down the video and you'll see that the fish tail happened AFTER impact. And the nose of Stewart's car actually turned up the track away from the infield. This is exactly what would happen if the right rear tire of any vehicle ran over a large bump, and it's exactly opposite of what would happen in a sprint car if you juiced the throttle. If Stewart's car's nose had turned down and the rear fishtailed up, then it would support the theory that he gunned the throttle*. However, the video shows the opposite.
4) Point of impact -- Ward had to dodge two cars trying to get to Stewart. Contrary to reports, he did not "march" down the track toward Stewart. He actually had a do a little dance to stay out of the way of the other cars. It was obvious that he was making a beeline toward Stewart and was going to get as close as he could. If Stewart were trying to mow him down, he could have done so easily and likely would have struck him with the front of the car. The fact that it was either the right rear tire or wing that struck Ward indicates that it was Ward moving toward the car, not Stewart moving toward Ward that was the primary cause of the collision. My guess is that Ward was planning to smack the hood of the car or shout into the right window, but he got too close and misjudged the speed of the car.
5) Stewart's temper -- I've watched Tony race for years, and yes, he has a temper. (Not that it's an excuse, but so do about 75% of other NASCAR drivers). But here's what I don't get. In 99.9% of altercations over the years, Tony lost his temper after HE was wrecked. I have never seen Tony get angry or do anything reckless after he was the person who put someone into a wall. The idea that Tony was so angry that he drove all the way around the track and then came back and mowed the guy down just doesn't add up. I can see why Ward would be angry if he felt Tony had wrecked him. But it simply doesn't make sense (and is inconsistent with past examples) for Tony to be angry with Ward (and certainly not enough to run him down).
* * *
and...
"Stewart did not gun it to hit his guy on purpose much less 'scare' him as those like you seem to being saying, and it's ludicrous to imply or state otherwise. They are racers, not gang bangers."
______________________
So can the internet lynch mob shut the fuck up now?
Thank you.
/gun
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