Re: Senna

[Kwattro@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-06-04 11:45:32 EDT, you write:

<< Thanks very much for the C&D article tip...I would not have known
otherwise and will get it to read. I watched that race on live TV in a hotel
room...my girlfriend and I were up north visiting her friend and we got up to
watch it live...(like I try to with all F1 races, early here in CA though.)
We later heard on the drive home that he hadn't survived...I'll never forget
that day as it was one of the saddest for me as a motorsports fan-just like
the day I heard of Bruce (McLaren) hitting the concrete marshall's stand at
Goodwood (which had already been slated to be removed because it was
considored dangerous.) Senna was shaken all that weekend by the death of
Ratzenberger (sp?) and according to Michael Schumacher (who was right behind
him in the incident) was not driving like he usualy did...very tentative. I
recall coming home that night and commiserating with other race fans on
AOL...it was a very very sad day.
  >>


Read the article.  It is absolutly incredible the events that led up to his
death.  New to me were that the pace car was to slow, and the cars were
allowed to slug around the track for 4 laps, droping tire temperatures on
allready skittish cars (they were primarily completely new without drivers
aids computers) to a level that had not been seen in years.  The Williams had
been lowered.  The steering shaft had been sawed in two, and then welded
together.  However, it showed metal fatigue prior to the accident at the weld
spot.  Senna was unusally emotional, and felt pressured into racing in a race
he had to win to stay in the championship race.  Schumachers car was fouind
to be illegal with a program which allowed the car to control launched in
order to maximize speed.  There was debris in the road prior to the accident,
directly in Senna's path.  There was also a dip in the road, which Senna had
complained about to officials weeks before. It had not been properly fixed.
 There was no run-off space, and there was a drop of 1/2 inch between the
dangerously placed grass strip and the run-off zone (all 11 yards of it.)
 Senna was traveling at roughly 185mph when his steering went limp.  It is
estimated that in the 1.4 seconds before he hit the grass strip, he was able
to slow to 135 mph.  However, the car then took to the air.  It is estimated
that if it had not the car would have slowed an additional 30 mph.  at 1.8
seconds after losing control, Ayrton Senna hit the concrete barrier at 130
mph, destroying the entire right side of his car, and sending suspension
debris flying into his head, which crushed his brain instantly.  He had no
hope of surviving.  As a result, the Italian race comittee that is overseeing
the case is charging no less than 6 people with a befitting charge.
 Manslaughter.  Manslaughter of perhaps the greatest formula one driver ever
to grace the sport.  Thank you all who read to this point.  

Carter Johnson
Kwattro@aol.com