Brad Keselowski’s car suffered extensive damage in a crash during testing Tuesday afternoon at Watkins Glen International.
Keselowski was evaluated and released, according to a team representative. The incident took place going into Turn 1 on the road course. Keselowski tweeted that he lost his brakes entering the corner off the long frontstretch.
Crew chief Paul Wolfe told NASCAR.com that they lost the car’s rear brakes and that the front brakes locked before the impact.
Keselowski told NASCAR.com: “Just the pedal went to the floor.’'
I'm ok! pic.twitter.com/Cu9yPYQnFG
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 26, 2016
He hit a tire barrier, which was positioned in front of an Armco barrier.
Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International, told NBC Sports that engineers prefer tires and an Armco barrier in that section because of the chances of a head-on crash. He noted that a SAFER barrier must be anchored to a concrete wall. That would not give as much in a head-on impact. In this case, the tires give and move and the Armco barrier can flex, helping dissipate the energy in a crash that can injure a driver.
Printup said Keselowski’s crash was similar to a crash Denny Hamlin had there in 2011. Like Keselowski on Tuesday, Hamlin walked away from the incident.
Keselowski was among 16 drivers testing on the repaved 2.45-mile track before the Aug. 7 race on the road course.
Tuesday’s incident comes nearly five years to the day Keselowski suffered a broken left ankle in a crash testing at Road Atlanta on Aug. 3, 2011. Four days later, he won at Pocono Raceway.
The highs and lows of Racing summed up in 2 pictures. Run the fastest lap & lose brakes 100 yards later. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/PlsmLoLtU0
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 26, 2016
NOT doing Facebook live today, Sorry. 😳 pic.twitter.com/jpyX4ykNh7
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 26, 2016
That was not good glad to watch u climb out https://t.co/eYXfddNyeB
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) July 26, 2016
