Very lucky it was just sheet metal and a tire although still deadly, and not that engine block. That fence did what it was suppose to for the most part. And they have come along way cars aren't "doing the Richard petty" any more and in all respects I believe ernhart died due to his lack of safety not the technology at the time. I also agree with you as a spectator you need to pay attention and you take on a certain risk. a few years ago I was photographing some racing from a spectator area at a local road racing track when a guy on a suzuki GSXR 750 went down and his bike literally landed 5' from where I had been standing and had jumped two walls.