Marco Simoncelli Crash: Motorsports Cross Line Between Sport and Daredevil Game

A burst of tragic deaths occurring in the entertainment industry demands change.

A single death in racing can be labeled a freak accident.  Two in a span of eight days and that classification of sport needs to be put under the microscope.  If the brain trust of motorsports thinks long and hard about what has happened over the past week, they may just put a microscope between their game and the sun.

IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon died in a fatal crash last Sunday and Grand Prix motorcycle racer Marco Simoncelli passed away today.  For fans, it’s easy to say that it’s simply just part of the sport, a risk that all drivers are aware of and one that each willingly takes.  But when is enough, enough?

Fellow Indy driver Dario Franchitti broke down following Wheldon’s death telling the press (via National Post):

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“Days like today is it worth it? Absolutely not. But we’re race car drivers, it’s what we do.  We push each other, we push ourselves, we push our team to win these races and championships.  It’s what drives us forward.  It’s what we love.  Then you see that happen to Dan and you know what, it doesn’t matter.”

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According to USA Today, Grand Prix driver Dani Pedrosa sang a similar tune after Simoncelli’s passing stating:

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“In a tragedy like this, there is not much to say.  I just want to give my condolences to his family and all the people who love him.  I've been with his father and all we could do was to hug, nothing else matters.  Many times we ourselves forget how dangerous this sport can be.  And when you lose people on the way, nothing has any meaning.  It's clear that we all do what we like, what we love, but on days like today, nothing matters.”

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Now, deaths in NASCAR are extremely rare, but open wheel racing, motorcycle, drag racing, etc. are all classes of racing where the risk exceeds the thrill. 

Sports like boxing, football, hockey and baseball all have their grave dangers.  The difference is, though, human beings are in full control in the ring and on the field, court or diamond.  When machines are involved, even the most masterful drivers can only control their fate to a certain point.

Change must be made in reaction to Wheldon and Simoncelli’s death, major change.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.  Follow him on Twitter.