Jeff,

The "Safer Barrier" wall does not give to a normal touch. It is hard to the touch on the outside. It compresses to a hard hit because it is attached to the main outside wall with pieces of foam. each attachment point has several layers of what seems to be 2 inch/5cm foam. It is like a shock absorber. The outside of the wall is not really meant to break or crack upon impact. On the rare occasions when it does they keep the track yellow and attach new pieces. I have even seen them welding the inner supports under yellow during the race. You don't want a car to hit a jagged damaged piece of wall.

JohnCote