Kenny Brack almost fatal accident at Texas (7 June 2003) THE MOST COMPLETE FOOTAGE
- 6 years ago
Indy Car driver Kenny Brack is believed to have survived the highest ever G-force in a crash — 214G during a race in Texas in 2003. After one of the most frightening accidents in Indy car history left Kenny Brack with multiple injuries Sunday, the Swedish driver was in serious but stable condition Monday as he recuperated from surgery in a Dallas hospital.
Kenny Brack suffered fractures of his right thighbone, breastbone, lower back and ankles, said Dr. Henry Bock, IRL medical advisor. Brack underwent surgery on the thigh and ankles. Another operation is planned for his back in the next few days. Bock said he expected Brack to fully recovery. The accident occurred on Lap 188 of the 200-lap Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway when Brack tried to pass Tomas Scheckter for third place as their cars approached Turn 3 at about 220 mph. Brack's left front wheel made contact with the right rear of Scheckter's car, causing Brack's No. 15 Dallara-Honda to fly over the top of Scheckter's car and into the outside catch fence at the top of a 39-inch concrete wall on the backstretch. The car, demolished when it tore a gash in the fence, broke apart as it fell spinning to the track. The cockpit, with Brack still inside, sailed down the track before stopping. Despite the horrifying appearance of the crash, Brack was able to speak with the IRL medical staff as he was pulled from the wreckage and transported to the track medical center before being airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
Scheckter was not injured. "Thank goodness the Dallara chassis was so strong in that kind of a crash," said Rahal after seeing Brack at the hospital. Fellow racers Michael Andretti, Bryan Herta and Dario Franchitti visited Brack. "He kept asking me, 'What happened?' " said Brack's wife, Anita, in a team statement. "He was happy to see his friends and Team Rahal family. Now we have to make sure he gets well."
Brack has won the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and 1998 Indy Racing League champion.
About Kenny Brack:
Kenny Bräck (born March 21, 1966 in Arvika, Värmland) is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest accidents in Fort Worth, Texas 2003, in which a deceleration of 214g was measured. 18 months later he made a comeback at the Indy 500 and set the fastest qualifying time of the field. He retired from IndyCar racing after the race. Bräck moved back to the IRL in 2003 with previous CART team owner, Bobby Rahal and his Rahal Letterman Racing team. Bräck scored 2nd place at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. In the final race at Texas Motor Speedway, he suffered a serious crash that almost cost him his life. His car locked wheels with Tomas Scheckter's, flew into the catch fencing, and broke apart. Bräck's crash saw the highest recorded g-forces since the introduction of crash violence recording systems, peaking at 214 g. He suffered multiple fractures, breaking his sternum, femur, shattering a vertebra in his spine and crushing his ankles. He spent 18 months recovering from his injuries. Though Brack returned to IRL a few times since then, the Texas wreck essentially ended his racing career in IRL. He made his comeback to the 2005 Indianapolis 500, replacing an injured Buddy Rice (who, coincidentally, had replaced Bräck in 2004). He set the fastest qualification time in the field with an average speed of 227.598 mph (366.283 km/h), but started 23rd due to not qualifying on the first day. He retired from the race with a mechanical problem.
Kenny Brack suffered fractures of his right thighbone, breastbone, lower back and ankles, said Dr. Henry Bock, IRL medical advisor. Brack underwent surgery on the thigh and ankles. Another operation is planned for his back in the next few days. Bock said he expected Brack to fully recovery. The accident occurred on Lap 188 of the 200-lap Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway when Brack tried to pass Tomas Scheckter for third place as their cars approached Turn 3 at about 220 mph. Brack's left front wheel made contact with the right rear of Scheckter's car, causing Brack's No. 15 Dallara-Honda to fly over the top of Scheckter's car and into the outside catch fence at the top of a 39-inch concrete wall on the backstretch. The car, demolished when it tore a gash in the fence, broke apart as it fell spinning to the track. The cockpit, with Brack still inside, sailed down the track before stopping. Despite the horrifying appearance of the crash, Brack was able to speak with the IRL medical staff as he was pulled from the wreckage and transported to the track medical center before being airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
Scheckter was not injured. "Thank goodness the Dallara chassis was so strong in that kind of a crash," said Rahal after seeing Brack at the hospital. Fellow racers Michael Andretti, Bryan Herta and Dario Franchitti visited Brack. "He kept asking me, 'What happened?' " said Brack's wife, Anita, in a team statement. "He was happy to see his friends and Team Rahal family. Now we have to make sure he gets well."
Brack has won the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and 1998 Indy Racing League champion.
About Kenny Brack:
Kenny Bräck (born March 21, 1966 in Arvika, Värmland) is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest accidents in Fort Worth, Texas 2003, in which a deceleration of 214g was measured. 18 months later he made a comeback at the Indy 500 and set the fastest qualifying time of the field. He retired from IndyCar racing after the race. Bräck moved back to the IRL in 2003 with previous CART team owner, Bobby Rahal and his Rahal Letterman Racing team. Bräck scored 2nd place at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. In the final race at Texas Motor Speedway, he suffered a serious crash that almost cost him his life. His car locked wheels with Tomas Scheckter's, flew into the catch fencing, and broke apart. Bräck's crash saw the highest recorded g-forces since the introduction of crash violence recording systems, peaking at 214 g. He suffered multiple fractures, breaking his sternum, femur, shattering a vertebra in his spine and crushing his ankles. He spent 18 months recovering from his injuries. Though Brack returned to IRL a few times since then, the Texas wreck essentially ended his racing career in IRL. He made his comeback to the 2005 Indianapolis 500, replacing an injured Buddy Rice (who, coincidentally, had replaced Bräck in 2004). He set the fastest qualification time in the field with an average speed of 227.598 mph (366.283 km/h), but started 23rd due to not qualifying on the first day. He retired from the race with a mechanical problem.