GLENDORA, Calif. — While still conducting its investigation into the details of last week’s tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA shared some of its initial findings and is continuing its efforts to make the sport safer.
It has been determined that a tragic series of events took place that fateful afternoon. An engine explosion near the end of the run resulted in separating most of the car’s body from the chassis. The car’s parachutes did not blossom, and the vehicle continued down the right side of the shutdown area at a high rate of speed. It went off the top end of the track, up into the right catch net pole, and hit the television camera boom beyond the end of the sand trap before coming to a rest.
The New Jersey State Police investigation team was on site the same day, working with NHRA officials as both conducted their investigation. Once it becomes available, NHRA will analyze the State Police report for any additional information on the incident. NHRA also continued its own investigation by bringing mechanical engineer and accident reconstruction expert David McCandless, M.S. M.E., P.E., to the site.  
McCandless is an independent engineer with more than 15 years of experience in reconstructing vehicular accidents. McCandless worked with NHRA officials, members of the Kalitta race team and officers from the New Jersey State Police accident investigation team on site.  
The Delphi technical team and Ford recovered and are analyzing the “Blue Box” data recorder, and NHRA is using this data and analysis in its investigation.
NHRA has identified several areas to analyze in order to determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport’s long-standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with race cars traveling a quarter mile at more than 300 mph:  
• NHRA, working with the Kalitta race team, has examined the engine, and will work with the Kalitta team and other teams to analyze what might be done to reduce such incidents in the future.
• Since the parachutes did not blossom, NHRA will work with parachute manufacturers and suppliers and SFI to analyze parachute mounting techniques and materials. Even though fire does not appear to have prevented the chutes from blossoming in this situation, NHRA will also work with manufacturers and suppliers to identify a parachute material that could be more fire resistant.
• Research will be conducted to explore whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body.
• In light of this tragic incident, NHRA is looking into the shutdown area. NHRA has requested data from FIA regarding design and make-up of runoff areas in other forms of motorsports to see if it has any useful application to the unique forces in drag racing. Together with the racing community and outside groups, NHRA will research and analyze catch nets and restraint devices that are used in other applications, including military applications.
• NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety, including measures to keep speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip. NHRA is considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.