| [ News Index ][ SpeedCenter Homepage ][ Copyright Info ][ SpeedCenter Galleries ] |
|
|
||
©1999 SpeedCenter Publishing Rookie driver Gonzalo Rodriguez, 27, of Montevideo, Uruguay, died Saturday following injuries he sustained in a practice crash during preparations for Sunday's CART Champ Car race at Laguna Seca Raceway. Rodriguez, practicing in his second Champ Car event for Team Penske, went off course in the Turn 8 Corkscrew section during Saturday morning's practice session and made contact with the retaining wall. CART Safety Team officials removed Rodriguez from the car and he was transported to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where he was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m., PDT, by Dr. Robert Keaney, who was accompanied by CART Director of Medical Affairs Dr. Steve Olvey. According to Dr. Olvey, Rodriguez sustained massive head and neck injuries in the incident. Rodriguez, second in the 1999 Formula 3000 points standings driving for Team Astromega, began racing in karts at age 13. He also raced in Formula 3 and Formula Fords. His first CART Champ Car race was in August at the Detroit Grand Prix. In respect to Rodriguez and his family, Team Penske will withdraw both entries from this weekend's event. Source: CART Press Release |
||
|
|||
|
|
|||