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©1999 SpeedCenter Publishing Tim Mayer, CART Senior Vice President for Racing Operations, today released the following statement: "CART has participated in the review of the situation surrounding the tragic accident leading to the death of Gonzalo Rodriguez, in cooperation with the Monterey County Coroner's office and the California Highway Patrol, whose offices will be responsible for drawing what conclusions as may be available. The team and its suppliers have been united in their full cooperation with this review process. "Initial data from the on-board data recorders indicate a large and sustained frontal impact in a manner never before seen in an accident on this corner. Other than frontal damage, the car was largely intact. There was no intrusion into the driver compartment. There were no observable impact marks on the helmet. While no conclusion may be drawn, the mechanical function of the accelerator was intact, upon initial inspection following the accident. All data currently available has been provided to the Coroner's office to aid in its investigation. All video and photographic information has been provided to the investigators. "No conclusions have been made at this time as to the cause of the accident and such determinations as may be available will be made in due course by the proper authorities. "CART would like to thank the Monterey County Sheriff's Department, the Monterey County Coroner's Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Staff and Volunteers of the Laguna Seca Raceway and SCRAMP, The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and all of the organizations and individuals whose sensitivity, expertise and efforts are contributing in this difficult process."
Source: CART News Service | ||
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