Sports Car Forum - MotorWorld.net - Earnhardts not so spectacular ALMS debut

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Earnhardt Suffers "Moderate" Burns at Sonoma
Written by: Ben Blake
Sonoma, Calif. – 7/18/2004
Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR's biggest star, suffered what were described as "moderate" burns as a reslt of a fiery crash during practice for the Grand Prix of Sonoma (ALMS) at Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway. Earnhardt was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Sacramento, for precautionary reasons.

Earnhardt, taking a week from from the NASCAR grind, who had planned to team with road-racing veteran Boris Said in a factory Corvette CR5 for Sunday's race, spun and hit a barrier in Turn 8, the car then catching fire. Earnhardt was able to get out of the car on his own and was assisted by safety workers.

Earnhardt suffered "moderate-sized burns of moderate intensity" on his face and legs, team sources said. It was not reported whether he would be kept at the hospital, or for how long.

The team withdrew the car from the race after the crash.

Earnhardt has expressed desire to drive in other series from time to time, and he has run the Corvettes at Daytona in prior Rolex races. With NASCAR off this week, Junior had accepted an opportunity to drive at Sonoma.

It is likely the DEI NASCAR team and sponsor Budweiser will not take this event lightly, as Junior is one of the sport's most valuable properties.

We will have details as they are reported.

I saw it on TV and it was pretty damn scarey. They had just gone out for practice, so cold track and stone cold tires. He spun the wheels and stuffed the car into the wall. It broke the fuel cell filler neck, so after sliding a little ways down the track, the car just burst into flames. They showed an incar cam of it, the flames were literally surrounding him.

The part that really sucks about this is the Budwieser and DEI Nascar sponsers, I suppose thise means no more cross series racing. he could have provided the exposure the ALMS deserves. He's also quite a good driver. Sucks how a simple mistake could cost so much.