10 of Racing's Luckiest Escapes from Crashes!

Three cheers for the incredible safety standards we enjoy today in motorsport!

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On Jun 8, 2017
1

Scott Dixon - 2017 Indy 500

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Scott Dixon fancied his chances of winning the 101st Indianapolis 500 after taking pole position, yet his hopes came to an early end following a terrifying crash involving Jay Howard. After Howard crashed and hit the wall after running too high, his car careered across the track and into the path of Dixon, who was then sent into the air. Dixon's car smashed into the barrier sidepod-first and rolled before eventually coming to rest with only the survival cell intact. Remarkably, Dixon was able to jump out of the car and was quickly cleared by the medical crew, simply saying that he felt "a bit beaten up".

2

Mark Webber - 2010 European GP

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Mark Webber has history flipping cars, with his flying act at Le Mans in 1999 going down in history as one of the scariest accidents to hit the Circuit de la Sarthe. But his shunt in Valencia in 2010 was even more frightening. Coming across a slow Caterham at the fastest point of the circuit, Webber ran into the back of the car and sent his Red Bull flying into the air. Webber's F1 car came to rest on its wheels before slamming into the barrier - still at high speed. Somehow the car remained in one piece, and Webber was simply able to hop out.

3

Fernando Alonso - 2016 Australian Grand Prix

It is fortunate that the first shots of Fernando Alonso's mammoth accident during the 2016 Australian Grand Prix were of him scrambling out of what was left of his McLaren-Honda because if we'd have caught the incident live we'd have imagined the worst. Even then looking at the tangled remnants of what 'was' an MP4-31 it is still hard to believe he largely walked it off. The fact this crash caused 'this' much damage and pulled 46G as it hurtled through the air and against the barriers, yet left him largely unhurt, is testament to the brilliant advances made in the sport over the years.

4

Robert Kubica - 2007 Canadian GP

Robert Kubica's 2007 crash is remembered as one of F1's luckiest escapes, acting as a testament to the high safety standards in the sport. Coming towards the hairpin at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Kubica made contact with Jarno Trulli, causing his front wing to go underneath his BMW Sauber. Unable to slow down, Kubica slammed into the barrier at high-speed - a force of 75 G - before careering across the track and rolling over twice. Kubica was quickly taken away on a stretcher, his feet having been visible at the bottom of the car. Remarkably, Kubica only suffered a light concussion and a sprained ankle, allowing him to return after missing just one race. The Pole would go on to win in Canada for BMW Sauber the following year.

5

Josef Newgarden - 2016 Firestone 600

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Another IndyCar oval shunt, this time featuring Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly. Coming through a corner, Daly lost his car and speared towards the wall, catching Newgarden in the process. Newgarden's car was pinned against the wall as he slid along, his body just inches from the barrier. The force of the shunt required Newgarden to be airlifted to hospital, but incredibly he only sustained breaks to his right shoulder and hand. To make this story all the more amazing: Newgarden then went on to take a crushing victory at Iowa less than a month later, still racing with broken bones.

6

Ott Tanak - 2015 Rally Mexico

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Ott Tanak's escape from this crash at Rally Mexico in 2015 is one of the most remarkable on this list. After making a mistake and hitting a mound, Tanak's Ford was sent rolling down the hill into a lake. Tanak and co-driver Raigo Molder had just seconds to escape, but did so before swimming to safety as the car sank to the bottom of the lake where it remained for 10 hours. The M-Sport team eventually recovered the car and had it fixed up in just three hours, complete with new nickname 'The Titanak!'

7

Alberto Ascari - 1955 Monaco GP

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Tanak isn't the only driver to take a dip on this list. F1 legend Alberto Ascari suffered a very lucky escape when, during the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix, he crashed off the circuit and ended up in the harbour after making a mistake at the chicane. Ascari's Lancia D50 sank to the bottom, with the Italian driver popping up with his pale blue helmet just seconds after hitting the water. He was rescued by a nearby boat and escaped with just a broken nose.

8

Jari-Matti Latvala - Rally Portugal 2009

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He is considered one of the few rally drivers that could get close to Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier on his day, but frustratingly for Jari-Matti Latvala those days are often interspersed by crashes. However, for a man with an impressive array of huge incidents, his tumble down the side of a mountain in Portugal probably ranks as his most spectacular... at the very least it is probably his luckiest. Count the rolls as a momentary error leads to dizzying consequences...

9

Gabriele Tarquini - 1994 BTCC Knockhill

There wasn't much that could stop Gabriele Tarquini during the 1994 British Touring Car Championship season as he and Alfa Romeo came, saw and conquered all before it in wonderfully flamboyant style. That was until he got to Knockhill when an ill-timed tap just as the 155 caught some air over the Scottish venue's huge kerbs instead knocked it off balance. From here, gravity did the rest, sending Tarquini into a serious of barrel-rolls as the Alfa shedded bodywork... Gabriele was fine and his title-challenge barely harmed, but it was the end of the road for this particular car!

10

Sebastien Buemi - 2009 Chinese Grand Prix

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One of the strangest and certainly most spectacular accidents not to involve another driver (or even a mistake) befell Sebastien Buemi in 2010 when his Toro Rosso shed its front wheels and left him tobogganing towards the barriers. During free practice, the Toro Rosso driver was coming to the end of the back straight at 200 mph when he hit the brakes, only for both of his front wheels to burst off his car. Though not strictly a big 'crash' it certainly ranks high for 'luck'... special mention to the way the Formula E champion keeps on steering in an inevitably futile manner.

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