5 of the Most Infamous (Non-Fatal) Accidents in Racing History

5 of the Most Infamous (Non-Fatal) Accidents in Racing History

By Brian Cotnoir

Racing is one of the most dangerous sports in the World.   At one point in history a racecar driver had a 1-in-7 chance of dying because of a an accident during the race.  Over many decades of racing, many improvements have been made to make the sport safer.  However, some accidents during a race are so crazy, you can’t believe the driver actually walked away (whether it be injured or uninjured).   Some of the accidents helped lead to even more safety improvements, but one thing is for certain every one of these people involved were lucky to survive their wrecks.

1.) Alex Zanardi @ Lausitzring

This is probably the most devastating non-fatal wreck in racing history.   Alex Zanardi was one of the most electrifying drivers in American Open Wheel racing in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.   He was a two-time CART series champion and even made an attempted a comeback in F1, before returning to the CART series in 2001.   While racing in the 2001 American Memorial race (held just 4 days after the 9/11 Terrorist attacks) at the EuroSpeedway in.   With 12 laps remaining, Zanardi made his final pit stop from the lead, while attempting to re-enter the track from the pits, Zanardi spun his car out and entered the track.   Fellow driver Alex Tagliani wound up driving through Zanardi’s car in a devastating wreck.    Zanardi’s legs were RIPPED OFF in the wreck.   The track safety team worked quickly and despite losing ¾ of his blood and both his legs…he managed to survive!

Zanardi survived the wreck and would go on to return to racing and win gold medals in the Paralympics.   Unfortunately, last year he was involved in a significant para-cycling accident.  I wish Alex Zanardi the best of luck as he continues to recover from his most recent incident.  

2.) Geoff Bodine’s truck disintegrates @ Daytona

Daytona has had a number of significant serious crashes.   Richard Petty in 1988, Ryan Newman in 2021, Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson crashing into the catch fence, and many others, but one wreck at Daytona sticks out above all else.    In 2000, the NASCAR Truck Series made its much anticipated debut at the Daytona International Speedway.  On Lap 57, as the trucks were entering the trioval, Geoff Bodine became involved in a wreck and his truck was launched into the fence!   The car tumbled violently down the front stretch and was hit, by several other trucks, before eventually coming to a stop.

The sheet metal, tires, and engine were torn off the truck and what remained was a smoldering roll cage.   If you watch the re-plays of the wreck, you can just listen to heartache and disbelief in the commentators voice; they 100% believed Bodine had be killed, but he miraculously survived.   I remember watching this wreck as a kid, and it’s one of 4-5 wrecks I can remember seeing where I thought “There is no way a driver could survive that”.  Bodine returned to the track 10 race later.  Bodine would go on to race part-time for 10 more seasons after that.

3.)  Michael Waltrip & Mike Harmon destroy their cars @ Bristol

I included these two because they were both so similar.  I was only 1 when Michael Waltrip destroyed his car during a Busch Race at Bristol, but I remember watching Mike Harmon destroy his car during practice.  The fact that both of these drivers managed to walk away from their cars (with only concussions and bruises) is an absolute miracle.  I would never believe that a track so small, could produce such violent wrecks.

4.)  Juan Pablo Montoya hits the jet dryer during the Daytona 500

Juan Pablo Montoya, 2-time Indianapolis 500 Winner, 7-time race winner and Formula 1, one of the best drivers over the 21^st century, will always be remembered for a wreck that wasn’t even his fault.  While attempting to catch the field under caution during the 2011 Daytona 500, something on Juan Pablo Montoya’s #42 Chevy broke, and it caused him to lose control and crash into a jet dryer in the middle of turn 3-4 during the Daytona 500.  The fuel that poured out of the jet dryer ignited and there was a massive fire on track leading to a Red Flag.   It was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and unfortunately for Montoya it will probably be his most well-known legacy in racing.

5.) Robert Wickens wreck @ Pocono

IndyCar Rookie Robert Wickens nearly won his first ever start in the series at St. Petersburg in 2018.   Wickens followed up his impressive debut with a runner-up finish at Phoenix the next race.  Wickens would score two more podium finishes during the season.   During that years race at Pocono however, Wickens career would come to a horrific halt.   While battling driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, the two drivers would wreck and Wickens car would be violently launched into the catch fence.  After be extricated from the car, Wickens was taken to a nearby hospital.  The accident would unfortunately leave, Wickens a quadriplegic, and while he has been open in sharing his progress regaining the ability to walk again, it’s very unlikely he will ever race in an IndyCar again.