Three Race Fans Killed By Flying Debris At U.S. 500

BROOKLYN, Mich. - Tragedy appeared with 150 miles remaining in the U.S. 500 auto race. That's when Adrian Fernandez got his Indy car high into the gray area entering Michigan Speedway's fourth turn and careened into the wall.

He walked away from the crash with only bruised knees, even though the force at impact was devastating. The car was torn apart, and the right front wheel, its assembly and other debris flew over 15 feet of wall and fencing into the stands, where two people were struck and killed instantly.

A third person died minutes later at one of the track's medical facilities, and six more were injured seriously enough to be transported by helicopter to W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital in nearby Jackson. Four were treated and released.

Officials identified the dead as Michael Terry Tautkus, 49, and Sheryl Ann Laster, 40, both of Milan, Mich., and Kenneth Dale Fox, 38, of Lansing, Mich.

The incident is under investigation.

"It will take further evaluation" to determine what caused the deaths, said Dr. Greg Baumann, the speedway's medical director. But, he said, "The injuries appeared to be consistent to blunt-force injuries."

The worst known accident in modern American racing history involving spectators occurred on lap 175. With 75 laps to go, track officials decided to keep the race running. Racing rarely is halted unless there is a dangerous situation on the track itself.

Canadian Greg Moore won the CART series event and said, "It's terrible. People come here to watch us race. This definitely puts a damper on the day."

CART Chairman Andrew Craig said in a statement: "I can only express the deep sorrow felt by everyone within the CART community. There is, of course, nothing that we can say or do that in any way will reduce the deep sadness felt by the families and friends of the victims, but, on behalf of all of us at CART, I extend our heartfelt sympathies."

Witnesses said the debris from Fernandez's car flew over the 4-foot concrete wall and 11 feet of fencing and struck spectators eight to 10 rows up in the grandstands. The two people killed instantly quickly were covered with white sheets, witnesses said.

Gene Haskett, the speedway president, said there is no way to know how tall fences should be to prevent this kind of accident.

"It's impossible to say how high something would bounce or fly over," he said. "Thirty-one years of racing here on the oval, and this being our first incident of this nature is just something that's very, very unfortunate."

Fernandez said another driver, Paul Tracy, did not give him enough room on the track, although he admitted their cars did not touch.

"He basically shut me out," Fernandez said. "He comes too hard in the corner, and he has to leave you with room. He came too close to my car."

Tracy disagreed. "I don't feel like I did anything wrong," he said. "It was (Fernandez's) mistake. There was a long way to go in the race, and everybody was drafting very close. I was back and forth in the lead, racing with guys wheel to wheel. It is not my style to chop on somebody."

Tracy said the Handford Wing, a device attached to the rear wing of the cars to reduce speed, might have caused the crash.

"Turbulence is part of these wings," he said. "With the Handford-style wing, you have that big gurney hanging off the back, and maybe (Fernandez) was trying to draft too close."

It's not the first time Tracy has found himself in hot water this season. During the Detroit Grand Prix, Christian Fittipaldi accused Tracy of running him off the track. In Portland, Tracy bumped Michel Jourdain Jr. during practice and was placed on probation. And in Cleveland, he cut off Al Unser Jr., causing him to spin on pit row.

"It is disappointing because I am on probation and maybe (Fernandez) felt he had to point a finger at someone else," Tracy said. "It is frustrating because I do not feel I did anything wrong. And it is frustrating because people were hurt."

Compiled from Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Detroit News.