R.I.P paul dana!!!!

[ahmonrah]

PAUL DANA footage clickhere...

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Driver Paul Dana died after a two-car crash Sunday during the warmup for the season-opening IRL IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The other driver, Ed Carpenter, was awake and alert at a Miami hospital, IRL officials said.

Paul Dana |
Born: April 15, 1975 St. Louis, MO, USA

Height: 5-6
Weight: 140 lbs.
Rookie Year: 2005
Team: Rahal Letterman Racing, car #17
Engine: Honda
Chassis: Panoz
Tires: Firestone




Dana, 30, a former motorsports journalist with a degree from Northwestern, was a rookie who competed in three IRL races for Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing last year with a best finish of 10th in the race at Homestead.

The race was expected to be run as scheduled. Bobby Rahal, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Racing for which Dana was to race this season, said the team's other two cars will be pulled out of the race.

"Obviously, this is a very black day for us," Rahal said. "This is a great tragedy."

Carpenter spun and hit the wall moments after the practice began at 10 a.m. EST. As Carpenter's battered car slid to a stop, Dana slammed into it at almost full speed(176mph).

Dana and Carpenter, the stepson of IRL founder Tony George, both were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. IRL officials said Dana died shortly before noon.

Vision Racing team general manager Larry Curry said he was told Carpenter "would be fine."