Mick Saller admitted he felt like an idiot for wanting to confront Jessie Attard following a horrifying incident at Thunder on the Downs on Friday night (September 26). Saller's sprintcar flipped and burst into flames after contact with Attard while battling for second position and the final transfer spot to the A-Main. Attard, who escaped unscathed, ran towards the inferno and pulled Saller from the burning cockpit. However, a shaken Saller had to be restrained by fire marshals as he appeared to vent his frustration at Attard.
In an emotional interview, Saller acknowledged his frustration with how the incident unfolded but commended Attard's actions. "It's something you don't want obviously, to be on fire," Saller said. "We've got the best safety gear. I feel like I was on fire for a while, but I feel all right. I might have a couple of burns on my arms underneath."
Saller added that his emotions were running high. "Jessie was asking for it at that point," he said of the crash. "But I can't respect him enough, I didn't know that he ran in. I feel like an arse for wanting to kick his head in, and it shows that he is a good person at heart when the helmet's off and I'm on fire that he runs in. But, you don't need to be doing that stuff, arguing over position. It was always going to happen, and we've got a torn-up race car and we're putting our lives at risk for a transfer spot in a B-Main. It's just stupid. Main thing is I'm okay. It's honestly the biggest thing that I fear is catching on fire. I'm a big guy, it's not easy to get out of it. It's a testament to the sort of person Jessie is when the helmet's off, for him to run in and help me, but the rest is the rest, I'm on fire and feeling 100 emotions."
The incident occurred with 17 laps remaining in Turn 3. The two drivers were hunting for the same piece of track when they made wheel-to-wheel contact. Saller's car was pitched into a rollover and landed heavily on the rear end, splitting the fuel cell and erupting into flames. The race was immediately halted as fire crews worked to control the blaze that spread around the cockpit of Saller's battered machine. Attard climbed from his car and sprinted towards the scene, reaching in over the fire to pull Saller from the burning wreck.
Jessie Attard confirmed via social media that he escaped without any burns or serious injuries. "Firstly, I want to let everyone know that I'm okay and thankfully escaped without any burns or serious injuries," Attard's post read. "I just wanted to touch on the incident with Mick. As soon as I saw the fire, my first instinct was to get him out of the car and make sure he was okay and hadn't suffered any further injuries. I'd hope that anyone would do the same for me in that situation. As for the incident itself, I had no idea of the run Mick had going into the corner, and that's something I take responsibility for. Mick also probably wasn't aware that I had been running the bottom for the previous couple of laps, which ultimately led to a racing incident. I also want to give credit to Mick for how he handled himself and his interview afterwards."
This event serves as a stark reminder of the risks sprintcar drivers face, especially when battling for position in close quarters. Although the incident ended without serious injury, the rapid spread of the fire and Saller's trapped position highlight the crucial role of safety equipment and the quick actions of fellow drivers. Attard's selfless act of running into the flames is a testament to the solidarity in racing, even as Saller criticised the aggressive driving he felt was unnecessary for a transfer spot.
Both Saller and Attard realise the incident could have ended far worse. Saller specifically pointed out that they risk their lives for a B-Main position, which he believes is not worth the danger. While Attard has apologised and taken responsibility, Saller has forgiven him and even praised his bravery. This story is a valuable lesson in sportsmanship and respect on the track, even when adrenaline and emotions run high.
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