Is this what Manslaughter Looks Like? (Page 2)

Yes, it would have made a difference, but my reply was in reply to your "And if they did...what difference would it make." when I asked about spotters and someone being able to tell him that Ward was out of his car and to stay low. I agree that Ward should not have gotten out on the track. And I then radio communication couuld have made a difference, but I also believe Stewart acted on his emotions. I have not heard if this is somethig Ward has done in the past or anything about his racing temperment.

It feels like suicide more than manslaughter to me.

The other interesting dynamic is that Tony Stewart owns both Tony Stewart Racing and Stewart-Hass Racing, the latter with drivers Danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch. Think about all of the sponsors wrapped into these racers. Remember when Clint Bowyer intentionally spun out last year (with no injuries), many of his sponsors immediately dropped him.  It's going to be super interesting to see what happens on that front. 

Not sure if you are joking about suicide but these guys are not wired that way.

My take on the whole thing is that this is nothing new.  I have spectated many, many different types of national and local racing events (driven in a few small events).  From the time I was a little boy I have witnessed drivers getting into it with others on and off the track.  It is a part of the culture and always has been.  You can see old NASCAR clips of drivers fighting on and near the track.  It's acceptance reminds me somewhat of fighting in hockey.  While there have been attempts to minimize it through fines and threats of suspension it pretty much continues.

In the racing that I have done in "no contact" events if you did anything like this you would be immediately banned.  But nobody is buying a ticket to see that type of racing and whole the thing is about safety.  You would never think about going onto the track or anywhere near it outside of your car.

IMO, this was a case of unintended consequences stemming from a climate where driver antics and personalities are an integral part of the business.  How else could one justify allowing Danica Patrick to drive?  It is somewhat of a circus.   

If I told you someone knowingly/intentionally walked head-on into oncoming traffic on a highway... what would you think?

This guy knew all the risks of getting out of his car on an active track yet still did it. I am not sure what he expected? 

First, I don't think he walked head-on into traffic.  He was just outside the line that cars were driving as he made his way down the track.  I think he misjudged exactly where that line was in those last fateful seconds but I do not believe he intended to cross that line.

Second, the track was not active per se but under caution.  Drivers exit their vehicles under caution routinely and there are course workers on the track as well.  I would not consider entering a track that is under caution to be a suicidal activity in and of itself.  Under green flag, maybe.

Just don't really think suicide was a motive.

They do not have a transmission so you can only go so slow before they will stall.  He was at caution lap speed.

Actually he never hit Ward's car.  Ward had the high line and Stewart had racing position.  Ward ran out of room and went into the wall.  Stewart did nothing wrong in that sense.

I grew up as part of a racing family.  While I never raced I've sat in and taken test laps in these cars.  These cars have NO visibility on the right side. You can also turn the steering wheel and they will NOT turn if you do not give them gas.  Without throttle they just skid along. When Stewart saw Ward he likely gassed it to allow him to try to turn away.

But all of this is really irrelevant considering Ward was taking his life into his own hands by trying to get that close to the cars.