Getty Images When you go to a race as a fan, the last thing you should expect or fear is accident debris entering the grandstands.
That’s why some of those injured in last Saturday’s accident in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway could be exploring legal action.
An Orlando-based lawyer for fans injured, Matt Morgan, told the AP he hopes to reach a settlement with NASCAR to avoid any lawsuits.
A NASCAR spokesman said he was not aware of any lawsuits, while a Daytona spokesman said they would not comment on pending litigation.
There are several aspects of what led to this accident. The Nationwide cars have lesser horsepower than the Sprint Cup Series, and while the Sprint Cup’s new Generation 6 car ran primarily in single file formation throughout the Daytona 500, the Nationwide cars ran more in a huge pack. That meant a greater likelihood of a “big one” accident.
Additionally, the accident itself was triggered by contact between leader Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski behind him. When Keselowski pulled out to pass as the field headed into the tri-oval, Smith moved to defend but came too far over on top of him. That triggered the chaos and the speed of cars behind them helped send Kyle Larson’s car airborne and into the catch fencing.
Keselowski was also involved in NASCAR’s last two car-into-fence moments, each with Carl Edwards. Going for the win at Talladega in April 2009, Keselowski and Edwards collided with Edwards’ car spiraling airborne and careening off the fencing, in front of the grandstands. Edwards retaliated on Keselowski in a Sprint Cup race at Atlanta in 2010.
The litigation may pass, but the discussion about both the catch fencing and the style of racing that has caused these accidents has only just begun. For more, see “IndyCar champions seek fence changes.”
-
To win the Coca-Cola 600, you have to go through Kasey Kahne
May 21, 2013, 4:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
To win the Coca-Cola 600, you have to go through Kasey Kahne. Kahne has threatened to usurp the title of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s master driver from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with his performance in the nightcap of Memorial Day Sunday. Johnson has more wins in total at the track (six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series…
-
Diffey answers Twitter questions ahead of NBC’s live Monaco coverage
May 21, 2013, 3:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
As part of our preparation for NBC’s live broadcast of the Monaco Grand Prix (which you also can watch online), this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, Leigh Diffey took to our Formula One on NBC Sports Twitter handle (@F1onNBCSports) to answer fan questions ahead of the race. Monaco kicks off the single greatest racing day…
-
Over Indianapolis qualifying weekend, Michael Pena, star of DreamWorks Animation’s new film “Turbo,” was named as honorary starter of this Sunday’s 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. In “Turbo,” Pena portrays Tito, an entrepreneur who enters a super-fast snail in the Indy 500. The film races into theaters everywhere July 17. From DreamWorks Animation, and…
-
Helio Castroneves wants a Stingray in his driveway (VIDEO)
May 21, 2013, 1:00 PM EDT
AP
As you’d expect, there are many perks that go with winning the Indianapolis 500 such as the traditional wreath, the glass of milk, and having your name and face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy. But there’s also another longstanding prize for the victor. Since the 1930s, it has been a tradition to award the winner…
-
Three new sponsors have joined the fold for the Indianapolis 500 in the past few days. On Monday, Angie’s List, an Indianapolis-based connection service provider, confirmed it would partner with Katherine Legge’s effort in the No. 81 Schmidt Peterson Pelfrey Motorsports Honda. Legge made the race after her deal came together on Pole Day Saturday.…
-
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said it was crucial for the team to agree a new engine deal with a car manufacturer. The team announced last week it will reunite with former engine supplier Honda in 2015. “McLaren needs to be supported and teamed in a full works effort with a major automotive manufacturer,” said…
-
BMW says there is no substance to comments made by Bernie Ecclestone suggesting they could be about to return to Formula One. “I think they could come in… it makes sense for them to return,” said Ecclestone yesterday. But BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt told Autosport: “I don’t know with whom Bernie spoke.” He said…
-
Bernie Ecclestone says the Williams team are still blocking efforts to allow Formula One teams to use old chassis from other manufacturers. Williams sees the introduction of so-called “customer cars” as a threat to them as they could be beaten to a larger share of the prize money by other teams using year-old chassis from…
-
The Monaco Grand Prix has traditionally been a “one-stop” race but Pirelli expect drivers will have to make more than one visit to the pits on Sunday. Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said “strategy will become even more important than usual” at Monaco because of the difficulty of overtaking on the narrow, two-mile track. All…
-
Charlie Kimball has the potential to surprise at this year’s Indy 500
May 20, 2013, 6:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
The Indianapolis 500 is so much more than just a race for the IndyCar community and the state of Indiana at large. According to Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing’s Charlie Kimball, the month of May is its own season. “There’s winter, spring, May, fall, and Colts season,” Kimball said Monday in Milwaukee for Indy 500…
-
Indianapolis 500 polesitter Ed Carpenter is better than you think
May 20, 2013, 4:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
Throughout his career, Ed Carpenter probably has been derided more than any other male driver in IndyCar racing. And that’s a damn shame. Carpenter’s a throwback in the modern IndyCar series. He’s a pure bred oval racer, born and raised on the dirt tracks of Indianapolis. A true Hoosier, he’s a Butler graduate with a…
-
The weekend roundup: In other news beyond F1, Indy, NASCAR
May 20, 2013, 3:00 PM EDT
This weekend may have been the busiest for series not called Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR. F1 and the two domestic North American sports car championships, GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series, were all off. But here’s what else was going on around the motorsports world this weekend: The Australian V8 Supercars made their…
-
Getty Images
It’s been six years since an American has claimed victory at the Indianapolis 500. Back in 2006, Team Penske’s Sam Hornish Jr. beat Marco Andretti to the checkered flag by .0635 of a second in the second-closest finish in Indy history. Since then, two Brits (Dario Franchitti – 2007, 2010, 2012; the late Dan Wheldon…
-
AP
It’s hard not to feel for Michel Jourdain Jr. this Monday. Jourdain was the only driver who failed to qualify for this year’s Indianapolis 500, as he battled an ill-handling car all week for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Jourdain is one of the nicest, most genuine people in the IndyCar community, and he has been…
-
Getty Images
Bernie Ecclestone believes BMW could make a return to F1 in the near future as Honda are doing. Ecclestone told City AM newspaper he would be “surprised” if BMW did not revive their Formula One effort. “I think they could come in,” he added. “The amount of money they spent was not significant in the…
-
Getty Images
Pastor Maldonado has high hopes about his return to Monaco for this weekend’s grand prix. Maldonado has a strong record on the demanding Monte-Carlo street track from his junior career. He has not scored there in his two previous F1 visits, though he came close in 2011 before a controversial collision with Lewis Hamilton. “I…
-
Editor’s Note: Two of racing’s biggest events take place on Sunday – the Monaco Grand Prix, which airs live on NBC Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, and the Indianapolis 500. One family has a particular interest in both races. They will be the squads that form the Franchitti/di Resta clan. Guest contributor Andy Hallbery, a…
-
Bernie Ecclestone has rubbished the charges of bribery being levelled at him in Germany. Ecclestone told his biographer Tom Bower in an interview for the Sunday Times: “I still don’t know what the German prosecutors think.” “I wish I was guilty – it would be much easier,” he added. “The charges are a complete load…
-
Getty Images
Former McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe will make an early start for his new team Mercedes after a deal was struck between the two teams. Lowe will begin work for Mercedes on June 3rd after McLaren agreed to allow Lowe to join them before his contract expired at the end of the year. McLaren are…
-
Getty Images
- If you’re into numerology, it would appear that the number four is playing a role in how this 97th Indianapolis 500 is playing out so far. The field for this year’s running features four former winners of the “500″ (Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Buddy Lazier), four rookie drivers (Carlos Munoz, A.J.…
