As the news of Alexandre Areia’s crash at the Portimão circuit continues to dominate the headlines, fans of the sport have taken to social media to express their outrage and frustration. However, in a strange turn of events, some fans have decided to use this tragedy as an opportunity to take a jab at Ross Chastain.
Fans of the sport have often criticized Chastain for his reckless behavior on the track, and some have even gone so far as to call him a danger to himself and others.
What actually happened at the Portimão circuit? How is Chastain linked to it?
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During the second practice session of the Porsche Sprint Cup Iberia for the World Endurance Championship on Friday, Alexandre Areia, a Portuguese driver, experienced a brake failure while driving his Porsche GT3 Cup 991. A TikTok video captured the aftermath of a crash involving Areia’s 991.2-generation 911 GT3 Cup car.
The video shows the car hurtling past a braking zone for a tight corner at full speed, before ultimately careening into a gravel trap where it crashed. Fortunately, Areia was not injured in the incident, and there were no spectators present in the seated area at the time.
Following the crash, the driver posted on Twitter to assure his fans that he had not been injured and that no spectators were in the vicinity. He said, “It was very angry, I ran out of brakes at the end of the straight, I practically became a passenger.. luckily no one was in that area of the grandstand and I managed to get out of the accident unharmed, thanks to the safety level of that car, keep strong”
Scary video, this accident could have been exponentially worse… 😬pic.twitter.com/X39P5MKi8N https://t.co/hCvdsbJJsc
— Bryson Sullivan 🇺🇲 (@NaturalParadigm) April 14, 2023
As news broke of Alexandre Areia’s crash at Portimão, some fans took the opportunity to criticize NASCAR driver Ross Chastain and his driving style.
Comparisons were drawn between Chastain and Areia, and some fans expressed their opinion with what they saw as a dangerous precedent set by Chastain’s on-track behavior.
WATCH THIS STORY: “Ross (Chastain) Manipulated It” – NASCAR Insider Put the Sport Under Heavy Scrutiny, Proclaiming They “Screwed Up Denny’s Penalty”
Fans Take a Jab at Ross Chastain Amid Portimão Crash News
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As the motorsports community reels from the recent news of Alexandre Areia’s horrific crash in Portugal, some fans are taking aim at NASCAR driver Ross Chastain and his driving style. Amid the outpouring of support and concern for Areia, some fans are using social media to poke fun at Chastain.
The Trackhouse Racing driver is known to push the limits on the track, often driving aggressively and making risky moves in order to gain an advantage. While this type of driving can be exciting for fans, it can also be dangerous, as it puts the safety of other drivers at risk.
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In a Reddit Thread titled ‘Horrifying Sports Car practice crash in Portimao sends car into empty grandstands, thankfully no one injured’, One comment read, ‘A bunch of baby Rosses, send em to the moon.’ Another read, ‘Damnit Ross.’
One Fan mocked, ‘And Ross Chastain would get 25 to life for inspiring dangerous on track behaviour that set the precedent for unsafe driving.’ while another expressed gratitude satirically and said, ‘Thanks, Ross’
Another fan sarcastically said, ‘Ross How Could You’ implying Chastain to be cause behind all crashes.
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READ MORE: Ross Chastain Effect Leads to One More Unforeseen Addition in NASCAR Rulebook Ahead of Martinsville
Fans who are critical of Ross Chastain’s driving style may have a valid point. While it’s important for drivers to be competitive and push themselves to their limits, they must also be mindful of the safety of themselves and others. In the wake of the Portimão crash, it’s important for drivers, teams, and fans to come together to discuss how to make motorsports safer for everyone involved. While accidents like this are rare, they serve as a reminder of the risks involved in the sport and the need to constantly strive for improved safety measures.