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Dana dies in wreck before season opener

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Indy Racing League driver Paul Dana, 30, died after a two-car crash during the warmup for the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 Sunday at Homestead-
Miami Speedway.
The other driver, Ed Carpenter, was awake and alert at a Miami hospital, IRL officials said. Carpenter had no broken bones according to X-rays, but is undergoing a CT scan to see if there are any other internal injuries.
The race started as scheduled, however, Rahal Letterman Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal announced that drivers Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice, teammates of Dana, would not race.
Dana is the first IRL driver killed since Tony Renna died in a crash during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October 2003.
Carpenter, the stepson of Indy Racing League founder Tony George, spun his Vision Racing car exiting Turn 2 of the 1.5-mile oval and hugged the outside wall before slowly creeping back onto the racing surface. The racecar was nearly stopped when it was hit in the left-rear corner at nearly full speed by Dana’s car.
Buddy Lazier said Dana passed him and Scott Sharp after both slowed because of the accident.
Most recent motorsports deaths by series

IndyCar: Paul Dana, Homestead, Fla., 2006

NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt, Daytona, Fla., 2001

Champ Car: Greg Moore, Fontana, Calif., 1999

Formula One: Ayrton Senna, Imola, Italy, 1994