Among the things the Institute is now working on is improving the safety of open wheel cars during a T-bone accident, such as suffered by then Champ Car driver, ALEX ZANARDI.
FIA's ANDREW MELLOR is developing a side panel to prevent the intrusion of a car by another car. It is designed to collapse the nose cone of the intruding car, so it does not penetrate the crashed car. This development will be discussed by Dr HUBERT GRAMLING later in the SAE Conference. Research on the side panel has already been done at Monza. Both Mellor and Gramling are members of the FIA Institute and in attendance as presenters at the SAE Conference.
Last week, Zanardi tested a
BMW Sauber
Formula One car which had been specially configured to accommodate his artificial limbs which resulted from his horrific crash which caused him to lose both legs.
Still needing improvement, in the opinion of Dr Watkins, are rear-ended car launching and losing wheels. Changing the geometry of car noses is under consideration. For 2007, FIA has doubled the required wheel tether strength for all FIA open-wheel cars.
The first FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award has been given to Paul Ricard circuit, for its commitment to innovation and the development of new safety technology, in terms of medical, marshal and race control safety. Paul Ricard will host the first FIA Safety Summit in January 2007.
Professor Watkins has always been known and respected for his outspoken opinions on motorsport safety. When asked about what it will take for NASCAR to change its policy of not having its own dedicated travelling medical team like so many other forms of motorsports, he said "tragedy." He said he would have thought the death of DALE EARNHARDT would have changed that.
