Tesla Team Comes Back From Crippling Crashes To Claim Second Place In Pikes Peak In First Outing

You don't need to like Tesla - or even electric cars in general - to be impressed with the team's achievement. A few days ago, everything seemed lost. Team driver Randy Pobst caught a big undulation in the road surface just as he was guiding the Model 3 into a right-hand turn during the second stage of qualification, lost control of the EV, and came crashing into a sidewall at little under 60 miles per hour.

Given all vehicles at PPIHC are required to have roll cages - and the very good safety record of the Tesla Model 3 to begin with - Randy came out unscathed, but the car itself was totaled. Videos of the aftermath showed extensive damage to the car's suspension system, and Unplugged Performance (UP) CEO Ben Schaffer revealed the frame itself was bent.
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SanJoseDriver - 8/31/2020 1:12:41 PM

+1 Boost

Pretty epic recovery if you watch the video showing how much damage there was to the car. The entire under-body was damaged including the rear motor and entire suspension system. Can't believe they got it running again.

USNA1999 - 8/31/2020 2:56:26 PM

-1 Boost

2nd place with all the money thrown at this from the biggest EV manufacturer? Sad

SanJoseDriver - 9/1/2020 12:14:53 AM

+2 Boost

Tesla didn't sponsor this. Oh, and 1st place was ANOTHER Model 3. 3rd place? Also a Model 3.

USNA1999 - 9/1/2020 6:43:16 AM

0 Boost

3 out of 3? LoL