Safety improvements at TMS

[ChuckLicata]

I thought you all would find this interesting..

 

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Contact: Sarona Winfrey

Brian Briscoe

-- For Immediate Release --

 

$400,000 FENCE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UNDER WAY AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

 

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (Dec. 19, 2003) - Work is underway on a $400,000 improvement

and upgrade program to the catch fence at Texas Motor Speedway to better ensure

fan safety.

A three-phase project has been undertaken by the speedway after engineers

studied ways to improve the fence surrounding the 1.5-mile track.

"We try to constantly make improvements in the area of safety," said speedway

general manager Eddie Gossage. "We had a spectacular crash involving the catch

fence during October's Indy car race and were pleased that the fence performed

perfectly and kept all the debris on the race track and out of the grandstands.

"But we have studied ways to make the fence even more effective for all

different cars that run here, including the much heavier stock cars," he said.

"We also saw the need to install a fence along the inside wall of the speedway

to protect fans in the infield. Overall, we are significantly improving safety

measures here at Texas Motor Speedway."

The first phase involved repairs and re-design of the back stretch fence where

Indy Car driver Kenny Brack was involved in October's crash. Brack continues to

improve and expects to return to racing in 2004. The cost for repairs from the

The second phase will double the number of steel cables found in the catch

fence on top of the track's concrete outside wall. When phase two is complete,

a total of 12 steel cables located eight inches apart will fortify the strength

of the fence. The cables are designed to keep the car on the racetrack side of

the fence while chain link fence is designed to catch smaller pieces of debris.

The cost for the second phase is estimated at $71,000.

The third phase calls for a 10-foot high catch fence with steel cables to be

installed on top of the three-foot inner crash wall surrounding the infield of

the speedway. This new fence will protect spectators located in the speedway's

infield and is expected to cost approximately $279,000.