| Safety issues regarding the driver's well-being |
|---|
| Criteria |
NASCAR |
IRL |
CART |
F1 |
NASCAR Position |
| Full-time Director of Safety |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Full-time Medical Director |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Considering a medical liaison to work with local |
| Medical clearance from sanctioning body's medical staff to race after injury/ accident |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Drivers needs clearance from his doctor after serious injury |
| Random Drug Tests of Drivers |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Removal of contact lenses required |
No |
No |
Yes (hard lenses) |
Yes (for first year of contact use) |
N/A |
| Removal of dentures required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
| Required to see officials before leaving track after an accident |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Smoking in the pits prohibited |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Some tracks prohibit |
| Stress test for drivers 45+ required |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
N/A |
| |
| Safety issues regarding equipment |
|---|
| Criteria |
NASCAR |
IRL |
CART |
F1 |
NASCAR Position |
| Accident Data Recorder (black box) required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Currently, $5,000 minimum fine, and/or loss of points, finishing position and suspension, but studying their use beginning next year |
| Crash test/impact test required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Have done some, but not required |
| Fire equipment in the car required |
Yes: Halon 1211 or equivalent extinguisher -- must not be dry powder type |
Yes: Built-in extinguisher with a minimum content of five pounds |
Yes: Built-in extinguisher |
Yes: Built-in extinguisher |
N/A |
| Fire equipment in the pits required |
No |
Yes: 10-pound dry powder extinguisher or equivalent and minimum of two 5-gallon water containers |
Yes: Two 2 1/2-gallon pressurized water extinguishers, five gallon pail of water in each pit, 10-pound BC dry powder extinguisher |
Yes: Two fire extinguishers of 5kg in each pit |
Suggest having a 10 or 13-pound dry chemical extinguisher |
| Fire-resistant driver racing suits required |
No |
Yes: fire resistant head sock, shoes, gloves, Nomex underwear and one-piece uniform -- conforming to SFI-3.2-5 |
Yes: fire resistant gloves, socks, underwear and one-piece, double layer uniform |
Yes: gloves in visible color, suits, shoes, socks, underwear that meet FIA standards |
Recommend fire resistant suit and gloves |
| Full-face helmet required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Left to driver's preference |
| Head/Neck Restraint System required |
No |
No |
Yes: Oval circuit (road course next year) |
Yes: Beginning next year |
Highly recommend |
| Helmets for pit crew required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Instruct on installation of safety belts to prevent chafing/cutting |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
| Require standard Snell sticker or proof of SFI 31.2 certification for helmets |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Requirements to make driver compartment safer |
Very few |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
| Seat belt replacement |
5 years |
2 years |
3 years |
5 years |
N/A |
| |
| Safety issues regarding licensure/standards |
|---|
| Criteria |
NASCAR |
IRL |
CART |
F1 |
NASCAR Position |
| Age limit for being in pit area |
No |
No |
Yes: 18 |
Yes: 16 |
N/A |
| Annual eye test required |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
N/A |
| Annual medical physical required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Daytona track provides before the season-opener and information passed on to NASCAR |
| Mandatory driving test for initial license required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Reserve right to request, and drivers also evaluated as come through the ranks |
| Penalty for assault or threat of bodily harm to officials |
Yes: $500 fine, suspension, and/or loss of championship points |
Yes: Disqualification and/or suspension |
No |
Yes |
N/A |
| Penalty for missing driver/crew chief pre-race meeting |
Yes: $100 minimum fine and/or other penalties |
Yes: $2,000 fine for first offense, doubling for subsequent offense |
Yes: $1,000 minimum fine |
Yes: Penalty not spelled out |
N/A |
|
Source: Sanctioning body's rule book; CNNSI.com research
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