Motorsport has always been a very dangerous kind of competition. During the origin of the sport race took place on conventional dirt tracks, which of course were not equipped with any security systems. Even the Racers do not particularly care for oneself. For example, even the notorious safety belts have been widely applied only in the mid 30-ies are themselves machines created in makeshift conditions, and were extremely unreliable, and sometimes simply dangerous. The famous British racer 50's, 60's 20 century Stirling Moss even said that 'in due time the idea of wearing a helmet seemed silly and insulting, a sign of cowardice – and he diligently on this avoided '.
Hence the huge number of casualties in those times, perhaps, the worst accident in the history of world motor racing occurred in 1955 while racing at Le Mans, when Pierre Levegh in his Mercedes 300 slr leaving a pit stop, collided with Austin-Healey fireball and crashed into a platform with the fans. Then, killing about 100 people, and many more injured. After this tragic event had even lifted the Grand Prix of Switzerland and Germany (in Switzerland, even the law was passed Prohibition of motor racing in this country). Only in the early 60's forced the fia Formula 1 racers of all wear a helmet and special clothing (before that they were dressed in the most casual clothes such as such as turtlenecks, sweaters leather jackets. Great British driver Mike Hawthorn and played at all in the cotton shirt, and Juan Manuel Fangio preferred to climb into the cockpit race car T-shirt and rag pants). After a terrible accident, Nicky Ladas at the Grand Prix of Germany in the so-called 'Green Hell' in 1976 in Formula 1 to think seriously about protecting riders from the fire, and nobody thought crazy to worry about their safety. The first truly significant step to protect the athletes from the fire was cooperation with the National Space Agency of America (NASA), which has developed a special heat-resistant suit. Currently, drivers use coveralls made from a special refractory material "NOMEX".
This material is made from special synthetic fiber resembling Kevlar (a synthetic fiber to replace steel). Such clothing can withstand temperatures up to 800 degrees Celsius for 30 seconds. In addition, this material is also light enough that it is very important in a sport like Formula 1. In addition to protective suits riders from the fire and protect yourself car, rather its protection system, such as: fire-fighting system, safety fuel tanks, self-closing at rupture fuel hoses etc etc. In conclusion I would like to note that recent security rules much tougher, and sometimes even brought to the point of absurdity, but the act of a person – the victims of motorsports has become much smaller, and we hope that soon there will not be at all.