Grosjean hit barrier at 192 kph with 67 G force in F1 crash

Romain Grosjean was going 192 kph (119 mph) when he hit a metal crash barrier and his car exploded into a fireball around him at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The impact was estimated at 67 Gs, a force equivalent to 67 times his body weight. By comparison, heavy braking in an F1 car produces about 6 Gs.

The findings came from an investigation into the horror crash last November by governing body the FIA that concluded on Friday, and will be presented to the drivers’ commission on Tuesday.

A part of Haas driver Romain Grosjean's car is taken after the crash at the start of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Tolga Bozoglu, Pool via AP)

The French driver made an astonishing escape from the raging furnace.

Grosjean's Haas car sliced in half after penetrating the barrier and quickly caught fire. He was trapped inside the cockpit for 27 seconds before scrambling out, yanking his jammed foot out of his racing boot in order to do so.

He suffered only minor burns to the back of his hands and a sprained left ankle, and was discharged from hospital soon after.

Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France is helped by medical staff after he crashed his car during the Formula One race in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Hamad Mohammed, Pool via AP)

The crash happened on the opening lap when the right rear wheel of his car clipped the left front wheel of Russian driver Daniil Kvyat's AlphaTauri, when attempting to pass from the left to right-hand side of the Sakhir track.

“The fuel tank inspection hatch on the left-hand side of the chassis was dislodged and the engine fuel supply connection was torn from the fuel tank ... providing primary paths for the escape of fuel,” the FIA said in a statement. “Fire was ignited during the final moments of the barrier impact, starting from the rear of the survival cell and progressing forwards towards the driver.”

The ring-shaped halo device at the front of Grosjean's cockpit protected his head by withstanding the huge impact, and he credited it with saving his life.

Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France is helped by medical staff after he crashed his car during the Formula One race in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Hamad Mohammed, Pool via AP)

Then, dealing with the shock of a ferocious crash while a fire threatened to burn him alive, Grosjean was faced with another problem.

“Romain Grosjean’s left foot was initially trapped as the car came to rest,” the FIA said. “The driver was able to free his foot by withdrawing it from his racing boot, leaving the boot in the entrapped position in the car and then moved both the dislodged headrest and steering wheel to (leave) the car.”

After his release from hospital Grosjean went to meet the three medical crew — FIA doctor Ian Roberts, medical car driver Alan van der Merwe, and a local doctor — who reacted so swiftly to help him.

Staff extinguish flames from Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France's car after a crash during the Formula One race in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Bryn Lennon, Pool via AP)

They arrived at the scene in a medical car in just 11 seconds by cutting a corner due to “local circuit knowledge and pre-planning,” the FIA said.

“Ian Roberts went immediately to the scene of the incident and instructed a marshal to operate the dry powder extinguisher around the cockpit where he identified Romain Grosjean,” the FIA said. “Alan van der Merwe retrieved a fire extinguisher from the rear of the car whilst the local doctor prepared the trauma bag.”

It proved to be Grosjean's last race in F1 since he was without a seat for 2021, and he has switched to the IndyCar series with Dale Coyne Racing.

Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France waves Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Grosjean escaped with only minor burns when his Haas car exploded into a fireball after crashing on the first lap at last weekend's Bahrain GP. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)

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Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France arrives to thank the marshals Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Grosjean escaped with only minor burns when his Haas car exploded into a fireball after crashing on the first lap at last weekend's Bahrain GP. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)

PHOENIX (AP) — Candace Parker looked up to Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team growing up.

Now she and Elena Delle Donne will get to be enshrined with them in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.

"I am so happy for Chamique and I am so happy that she is getting her flowers. She deserves them," Parker told The Associated Press. “Obviously, Elena Della Donne and I grew up battling against one another and the ’96 team, I think we were all inspired by that. So I just think it’s, it’s truly special.”

Parker was honored to be part of the 2026 Hall of Fame class that also includes Amar’e Stoudemire, Mike D’Antoni, Joey Crawford, Doc Rivers and Mark Few.

“It means so much, just to be in a club of people that I’ve always admired and looked up to and have paved the way. I think it’s super special," Parker said.

Parker won three titles in the WNBA with three teams: Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas. She’s the only player in league history to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

She also won two titles while playing in college for Tennessee under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, two Olympic gold medals and two WNBA MVP awards.

Holdclaw said she had pictures on her wall growing up in New York of members of the 1996 Olympic team that started the run of eight straight gold medals for women's basketball and helped get the WNBA started.

“There’s four or five players on that team who I have pictures of at my home, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards,” Holdsclaw said.

Holdsclaw won three straight titles at Tennessee from 1996-98, the first team to accomplish that. The 1998 championship was Tennessee’s first undefeated season at 39–0 and the Vols also set an NCAA record for the most wins in a season at that time. Parker helped Summitt win her last two titles in 2007-08.

“She would be so proud right now,” Holdsclaw said of her former coach. “I know she loved us both.”

Holdsclaw went on to an 11-year WNBA career. The WNBA and the defunct ABL were really made possible by the 1996 team. The Americans went undefeated at the Atlanta Games and the interest the team generated with its barnstorming tour across the U.S. leading up to the Olympics captured the attention of fans across the country.

“The '96 Olympic team was a really incredible group of women that were on a mission and accomplished the mission,” coach Tara VanDerveer said. “It helped establish the ABL and the WNBA and I think it really was the rocket that was the foundation for the women’s basketball landscape now. I think it’s very exciting for all the players on the team and the coaches.”

Delle Donne won two league MVP awards in 2015 and 2019, the second of which came when she led the Washington Mystics to their lone WNBA championship. Delle Donne became the first player in league history to shoot over 50% from the field, 40% from behind the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line.

Stoudemire, who was the only NBA player in this year's class, was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003 and a six-time All-Star. He spent the first eight years of his career with the Phoenix Suns, where he teamed with D'Antoni.

“It means everything from a basketball point of view,” Stoudemire told the AP. “When you look back at my career not only as a pro, but even high school and, and nationally, and since I was a kid playing the game of basketball. I love the game. You play the game because you love it, and then you work to become the best you can possibly be, despite circumstances, and to get into the Hall of Fame, it shows that the voters appreciate it. And now we’re enshrined forever.”

Rivers has 1,180 victories on his resume, which puts him eighth on the all-time wins list. He led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 2008 and was also in charge of the Los Angeles Clippers during their Lob City era.

Few has won 773 games at Gonzaga in his career at the school. He set the NCAA Division I men's coaching record by winning 81 games in his first three years at the school. Few guided the Bulldogs to the national championship game in 2017 and 2021.

Crawford officiated 2,561 regular-season NBA games and 50 Finals games over his 39-year career. He retired in 2016.

D'Antoni influenced the sport with his uptempo philosophy that redefined offensive strategy. He had nearly 1,200 career wins and was NBA Coach of the Year twice.

The Hall of Fame for the first time honored members of the Hall of Fame class at the women's Final Four on Friday night. Parker, Holdsclaw and members of the 1996 Olympic team were all in attendance as well as Stoudemire and D’Antoni.

The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

FILE - Los Angeles Sparks' Chamique Holdsclaw, left, drives to the basket past Seattle Storm's Francesca Zara of Italy, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Seattle Sunday, July 31, 2005. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)

FILE - Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne smiles after scoring during a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - United States' women's basketball team members, fromleft, from left are: Jennifer Azzi, Lisa Leslie, Carla McGhee, Katy Steding and Sheryl Swoopes, wear their gold medals during medal ceremonies in basketball at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta Sunday, August 4, 1996. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)

FILE - Former Las Vegas Aces forward Candace Parker reacts during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, May 20, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)