A New Winner!

[Nordic]

Gartner was driving the Kremer Porsche 962 (or 956)

One of the differances now was the information available, we were unaware of the outcome of the Gartnercrash until we got home.

The Nimrod crash involved both team cars,I think the driver was John Sheldon, he was badly burnt i think as well. The only way we found out the seriousness of this one was looking at the local paper pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F1ZJit0qQ4

The aftermarth of the crash is on youtube.

[Boorish Grobian]

The other Nimrod was driven by Drake Olson, he ran into the debris strewn from the Sheldon car.  For some reason I seem to recall one of the Fitzpatrick Porsche's having massive shunt on the Mulsanne in practice that year as well (I could be thinking of 1985).
Speculation was that Gartner's 1986 shunt was caused by the gearbox seizing.  A C2 car and Jochen Mass in one of the factory Rothman 962's had both just spun into the armco on fluid dropped in the Porsche Curves, and it was thought that it came from the Kremer Porsche, which crashed just moments later.
Fax

[Nordic]

Your correct, the Fitzpatrick car collided with a C2 Alba on the Mulsanne and went into the trees. Both drivers, Dudley Wood and Frey were unhurt but both cars were totaled.

The sole Sauber C8 also non started due to accident damage that year.

[mulc99]

Many thanks to you all. That was my first ever Le Mans. Time and cheap French beer must have confused me. Not a nice subject. RIP to all those who died finding the dream. 

[Grand_Fromage]

This pic by Eric Gilbert on motorsport.com clearly shows the new section of barrier. It also shows how close it, and debris fence are to the trees. Basically hitting the barrier where there is a tree (and there are many on this section) is hardly better than just hitting a tree with no barrier, as there is no space for the armco to deform and absorb energy.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/photo/main-gallery/fan-memorial-for-allan-simonsen-at-tertre-rouge-5/

[gatordad]

Boy, that picture is worth a thousand words.  Debate has ended.