Road Hazard Damage - Should I be concerned?

bkjunk

So driving home from work, I heard a huge kerplunk around my drivers side front wheel. About a month ago, I lost a rear tire due to side wall damage, I thought "not again." Pulled off the road and found this damage to the undercarriage. It's about a 5" gash. Is this something I should be concerned about? I stuck my finger in the gash and couldn't feel anything important. I plan on just leaving it as is, unless someone can give me a reason that I should patch it. By the way I went back a found the culprit. It was one of those 100' tape measures. The thing seemed to weigh at least 2-3 pounds.

Here are a few pics.

Close up


a little further away


The offender

Wonka2581

If I were you I would seal that gash some how, You dont want water any anything getting up there. Other then that I think you will be fine.

__________________
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat""Winston Churchill"