Video: Canopy saves NHRA driver from possible death

Antron Brown – saved by his new canopy

Antron Brown's Toyota engine exploded and his car landed upside down in the sand at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California. Thankfully this year Brown went with a Canopy over his head that teammate Tony Schumacher debuted last year. AR1.com's pleads with IndyCar to add a canopy to its cars have fallen on deaf ears, at least until the next big star succumbs to head injuries. Their lame excuse – how does a driver get out in the event of an accident or fire. Answer – the same way an NHRA driver gets out.

Brown's car exploded off the line during his second-round race with David Grubnic. Brown escaped serious injury, but was unable to continue at NHRA season-opening O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

The explosion sent the car into Grubnic's lane, and Brown's car left hundreds of pieces in both lanes at Auto Club Raceway. The car eventually came to rest safely in a sand trap off the track.

According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, a shaken Brown, 36, then got out and gingerly walked away as Grubnic and safety workers made sure he was unharmed.

Brown's car was equipped with a plastic canopy over the driver compartment similar to that used on fighter jets, which is a safety feature used by his team, Don Schumacher Racing.