Yahoo Sports 
NASCAR to add group of traveling doctors and paramedics to safety team
NASCAR is instituting its own version of a traveling safety team.
The sanctioning body said Wednesday it had partnered with American Medical Response to create a small group of doctors and paramedics that would take turns working races to supplement track medical personnel. NASCAR has previously relied exclusively on track and local personnel for emergency services during its race weekends.
The lack of a safety team has long been in contrast with IndyCar, which has a consistent safety presence at all of its races and doctors who travel to each race. Based on NASCAR officials’ comments Wednesday, it appears unlikely a member of the group will travel to every Cup race on the schedule.
NASCAR is hopeful that there are about 4 doctors who will rotate going to the tracks. #nascar
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 8, 2017
AMR will position state licensed doctors and paramedics in a chase vehicle along with two NASCAR Track Services team members and immediately respond to an on-track incident. The paramedic and doctor will provide an assessment at the scene.
The IndyCar safety team’s quick response is credited with helping save the life of James Hinchcliffe after he was impaled by a suspension part during a practice crash for the 2015 Indianapolis 500.
NASCAR drivers had discussions with the sanctioning body after Hinchcliffe’s injury regarding the safety procedures and personnel that NASCAR had in place for its events. After the discussions, Jimmie Johnson made a comment that looks quite prophetic now.
“I have sat in on a lot of discussions batting around the reason why we have the situation we do,’’ six-time champion Jimmie Johnson said Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “NASCAR is adamant that having true ER folks that every single day fight in an ER room to save people’s lives are the best people to have in place here on a weekend for us. In my heart, I feel like there is maybe a hybrid version where, yes, we have those EMT’s here, but then we also have people that are very sharp and NASCAR specific, car specific, know the drivers and know our cockpits.’’
Outside of the addition of the traveling crew — people who would be familiar with drivers and cockpits from being at races on a regular basis — everything else regarding NASCAR’s safety personnel and practices is unchanged.
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
