Both of the shot angles show the Mississippi cars shift light coming on a couple of times meaning that since they were both anxious to get the ahead almost trading paint in doing so, he had the Mo-Jo juice on to loose with the goose pedal too soon. Combined with what looks to be a moist black tar top surface, nothing but a crash would follow.
What I mostly saw as a annexed miracle in this day and time is the help of people for the driver from all ethnic back grounds finding common ground. That was the magic with Big Willie's (RIP) concept back in the 60's and 70's.