Ricciardo admits IndyCar ovals 'creep me out a little bit’

Daniel Riccardo has said that he isn't sure that he would ever feel comfortable racing in IndyCar on an oval circuit.  Earlier this year, IndyCar driver Robert Wickens was involved in a huge incident where he fractured multiple parts of his arms and legs, as well as his ribs and elbows as well as being left with injuries to his spinal cord.  

In 2017, Ricciardo's fellow F1 driver Fernando Alonso ventured over to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to compete in the gruelling Indy 500 race. The Spaniard has been linked with a full-time IndyCar move for 2019.

Riccardo was asked in the press conference in Austin whether he could ever see himself competing in the championship, and he was apprehensive about whether he would feel safe driving the cars. 

He said: "Yes and no. The thought of it sounds good. Ovals creep me out a little bit. I won't lie. It would be cool. I don't know. I would at least like to have a go, like maybe just a test. Let's see how things go but yeah, it was cool watching Fernando do it, don't get me wrong and part of me was like trying to picture myself being there and doing it but yeah, maybe one day.

"At the moment I don't say it's something I'm looking to do in the near future. I don't know. Probably the older I get, the more scared I'll become, so if it doesn't happen now maybe it won't ever happen. I don't know," Ricciardo added. 

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  • That incident was really nasty. Saw a replay of it. I hadnt even heard that he had gotten so severe injuries. Mind, must say Im really happy Im a racing fan now in that regard. Its potentially one of the most dangerous sports (as shown both in driver fatalities and crowd fatalities), yet we have relatively few deaths and severe injuries in present times. Now I can think some of the recent season has been a bit pale, especially in the hybrid era, yet Im very happy that I live now, and that so few racers are hurt. More can be done for sure, Bianchi's death was so unnecessary, but Im glad such things are exceptions, not the rule.

    • + 0
    • Oct 19 2018 - 18:38
  • websurfer

    Posts: 52

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    • Oct 19 2018 - 19:37

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