why consumer cars have crumple zones for safety yet racing cars have roll cages

Question

It’s always struck me as odd that crumple zones help absorb impacts which makes cars safer. Yet race cars have roll cages which make them safer.

In: 187

Answer 1

Race cars are basically a large crumple zones with a roll cage around the passenger compartment. They are built to be super lightweight, and their body will act as a crumple zone quite nicely on impact, absorbing much of the impact of a crash.

The roll cages in race cars are built just immediately around the driver to help ensure that part does not crumple. The lower speeds of consumer cars means that the weaker reinforcement from the main frame is typically enough, and there is less risk of a full roll that really needs a roll cage.