NASCAR now requires that an automatic-discharge nozzle be used for the trunk area. That way, if a driver is knocked unconscious, the extinguisher system should still work. Another change coming is with the fuel cell. NASCAR will limit the maximum length for the neck of the fuel-cell valve vent hose to 3 inches.
Drivers have a lot of opinions about safety, but NASCAR is not in a position to carry out all the wishes of drivers. The sanctioning body must research and develop safety measures as it goes along. It must be sure of what it is doing before it announces changes. Sometimes it may seem as if those doing research and development, especially in the case of safety, are dragging their feet. Perhaps NASCAR's R&D needs more people.
To me, the fire extinguisher situation deserved a Band-Aid right away. NASCAR went to work with its first-aid kit and came up with a solution. The cars carry fuel. My goodness, they are bombs of sorts. It's just whether or not the bombs explode. There will probably always be fires as long as you mix fuel and racing, but safety in this case should not be difficult for a "NASCAR engineer" to overcome. It wasn't, and the sanctioning body is to be commended for the job it did, and for taking swift action.
NASCAR claims it is working all the time on making the sport safer. Maybe so, but let's see. Take a pen and paper and put both in a special place somewhere in your office or home. Between now and the end of the season, each time you hear an announcement from NASCAR about changing a rule to make the sport safer, write it down. Let's see how many times you use that pen and paper between now and late November. For example, let's see if a traveling safety crew gets initiated-witness the response time lag at Watkins Glen for Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon's crashes, and their vocal observations about it.
Bob Labonte makes some good points. Experienced race drivers have excellent ideas. They can tell safety stories that would make your hair stand on end. But think about it this way: If your son drove a race car, wouldn't you want the best for him-and the safest ride possible? You bet you would. No questions about it.