doesnt get you up, you might as well sit down. And he did

LONG POND, Pa. -- One year after he was killed in a freak accident at Pocono Raceway, it was natural that Justin Wilson was in everyones thoughts this weekend, when the Verizon IndyCar Series returned to the Tricky Triangle.Wilson died on Aug. 24, 2015, when he was struck on the helmet by a piece of flying debris from a car that crashed nearly half a mile up the track. The recent death of USAC star (and occasional IndyCar racer) Bryan Clauson in a Midget car only added to the feeling of sadness hanging over the Pocono tri-oval.While the IndyCar community is reflecting this weekend on the losses of Wilson and Clauson, series officials remain focused on improving cockpit safety to minimize the chances that an incident similar to Wilsons could happen again. IndyCar has closely monitored cockpit safety advances such as the canopy developed by Don Schumacher Racing for NHRA Top Fuel drag racing cars and initiatives being explored by Formula One, including a wraparound aeroscreen and a carbon composite halo.The series faces two key challenges in proceeding with some form of cockpit protection for its open-wheel cars. The wide variety of tracks, from walled-in street courses to high-banked ovals, creates visibility and sight line issues that might preclude the use of a halo. In addition, the solution must be adaptable to the current Dallara DW-12 chassis, which is expected to be in use for at least three more years.Were working on two or three different directions, said Jay Frye, IndyCar president of operations and competition. Obviously, safety is our No. 1 priority, so its something weve been working hard at for the last six to eight months, whether its a screen or a halo or possibly some other type of idea coming out.Because what we do is so diverse, you cant maybe have just one configuration that goes across the board, he added. So were looking at all kinds of different things. We are collaborating with lots of different people to come up with what could be the best solution. Is it a 2017 initiative or a 2018 initiative? At this point, were really not sure. Obviously, we want to make sure we get it right. As soon as we get it right and ready to go, we will implement it as soon as we can.Respected orthopedic surgeon Terry Trammell, who has worked with open-wheel sanctioning bodies on safety-related matters for decades, is leading IndyCars research efforts. Trammell revealed that the latest direction of development is what he called a deflector reminiscent of the canopy on an F-16 fighter jet.?With Trammell often assisting, open-wheel sanctioning bodies have made numerous changes to the cockpit area the past two decades. CART introduced raised cockpit sides in 1996 and a year later mandated a wider cockpit area that incorporated a padded, horseshoe-shaped collar that fits over the drivers shoulders.This year, in the wake of an accident in May 2015 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in which a suspension arm pierced the monocoque and caused serious injury to driver James Hinchcliffe, IndyCar added additional strengthening panels to the sides of the tub.The head surround in the Indy car is probably one of the most advanced features to protect against head injury because it, by itself, absorbs head impact into the head surround very well and better now than it did even two years ago because of the evolution of what weve built into it, Trammell said. That whole complex system of what goes on inside the chassis, inside the tub around the driver -- we package them much better now than we did, certainly much better now than 20 years ago and really better than we did 10 years ago.The unusual nature of Wilsons accident, which occurred less than a year after Jules Bianchis fatal accident in the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix Formula One race (when his car slid under a safety vehicle tending to a wrecked car and caused a massive head injury), has made the search for a safe way to enclose the cockpit of an open-wheel car the highest priority for sanctioning bodies around the globe.But IndyCar doesnt want to rush a flawed solution into action before it can be adequately tested and proven. ??I wouldnt say were close, Frye said. Were very aggressively going after the right solution, and were probably close to coming up with a direction. But whenever you do something like that, theres a cause and effect in everything you do. So theres going to have to be some testing that goes along with it. I dont think working with an existing tub is a big issue. We deal with lots of smart people every day, so retrofitting it will not be that difficult. It just depends on what it is.Theres issues like product supply, and theres the cost. So far, weve been surprised in a good way because I think we can do some different things that are very, very good, and its going to be more economical than we thought to was going to be. So thats always a nice surprise.The one-in-a-billion randomness of Wilsons accident made his passing somewhat easier to accept for IndyCar drivers, who are generally happy with the safety record of the current car, as well as the series efforts to develop additional improvements.I think they have done a good job on safety, IndyCar Series points leader Simon Pagenaud?said. This year, they have done tremendous improvements on the cars, and theyre being proactive, which is awesome to hear for the future.Personally, Id like to have something [protecting the cockpit] because you dont like to think what could happen -- thats the nature of being a human being. I know its a dangerous sport, and its never going to be fully safe. The human body is not meant to travel more than 200 mph. But if we can do something to protect us and make it better, Im all for it.The progress that has been made over the years is even more pronounced for veteran drivers who were around to drive previous generations of Indy cars.I think the series has done a really good job with safety, said Juan Pablo Montoya, whose IndyCar career dates to 1999, when he won the CART-sanctioned series as a 23-year-old rookie. I think in the last 10, 15 years weve come a long, long way.You cant prevent everything -- its motor racing. Theres always a danger to it, and as drivers, we need to accept that. Its never going to be 100 percent, but I think theyre looking at the future and how to make it better. They care for us.As a driver, you always want more, but I think theyve done a good job. Wholesale Mariners Jerseys . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Fake Mariners Jerseys . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. https://www.cheapmariners.com/ . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. Stitched Mariners Jerseys . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Seattle Mariners Store . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. ST. LOUIS -- Robby Fabbri insists nothing has changed since being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. His play says otherwise.Jaden Schwartz and Kyle Brodziak scored early in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.Fabbri and Scottie Upshall also scored and Jake Allen made 23 saves for the Blues, who snapped a three-game skid and beat the Sabres for the ninth straight time.Maybe just more attention to little details, but my games stayed the same, said Fabbri, who has scored three goals in two games since returning to the lineup. Just trying to stick to that, stay positive and keep going here.Sam Reinhart scored and Robin Lehner stopped 27 shots for the Sabres, who lost their fifth consecutive game.The Blues are 4-0-2 in their last six at home and have allowed two goals or fewer in eight of their nine games at the Scottrade Center this season.Schwartz broke a 1-1 tie 44 seconds into the third period on a rebound past a prone Lehner, who had made a sprawling save to stop Dmitrij Jaskins breakaway moments before.It was a great play by Jask, Schwartz said. He had a lot of speed and made a good power move and just a fortunate bounce for me. I think anyone could have put that in.Brodziak tipped in Ryan Reaves pass to give the Blues a 3-1 lead at 2:16 of the third. It was Brodziaks first goal since April 4 against Arizona.While Fabbri is known for his skill, the second-year player changed the game with his fists by getting into a second-period fight with Josh Gorges a couple of minutes after Gorges checked Alexander Steen hard into the boards. It was just the second fight of Fabbris NHL career, the other coming Feb. 14 against Tampa Bay.I dont know what got into me, but I wanted to be that guy so I went out on that shift so I asked him, Fabbri said. And the funny part is I asked him again and hes like, `Are you sserious? and Im like, `Well yeah, kind of, so thats what happened.ddddddddddddSteen briefly returned after the hit, but was taken out of the game shortly after for precautionary reasons. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday.Reaves said Fabbris willingness to stick up for a teammate energized the Blues.It only motivates us when a guy like that who doesnt fight and hes a skill player goes and sticks up for our team, Reaves said. Youve got to give him that pat on the back and if that doesnt get you up, you might as well sit down. And he did a good job. If he would have landed that first one it would have been night-night.Reinharts power-play goal gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 7:55 of the first period. The goal came 18 seconds after Upshall took an ill-advised hooking penalty for St. Louis in Buffalos zone.Fabbri tied it three minutes later. All three of his goals during his streak have come on the power play.Lehner made 11 saves and Allen made eight saves in a scoreless second period. Allen robbed Reinhart with his left pad midway through the frame, while Lehner stopped a Jaskin shot from the slot late in the period.Were strapped for goals, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. Were strapped for opportunities to get the goal and its not for a lack of effort, guys are throwing it out there and giving everything they got.Game notes Blues F Nail Yakupov was a healthy scratch for the fourth time in six games. ... Sabres F Ryan OReilly (middle body) and D Dmitry Kulikov (undisclosed) missed the game with injuries. ... Sabres F William Carrier was the Blues second-round pick (No. 57 overall) in 2013, but was traded to Buffalo in the deal that brought Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to St. Louis.UP NEXTSabres: Host Tampa Bay on Thursday night.Blues: Host San Jose on Thursday night. ' ' '