honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, July 26, 2009

Auto racing: F1 facing safety questions after Alonso loses tire


Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Renault's Fernando Alonso has retired from the Hungarian Grand Prix after losing a tire, another incident likely to put Formula One safety under the spotlight following Felipe Massa's crash.

Alonso retired after 13 laps on Sunday. The Spaniard's front right tire came off and bounced down the Hungaroring track after he rounded a corner.

The incident comes one day after a loose car part hit Massa in the helmet, causing the Ferrari driver to crash into a tire barrier at high speed. Massa was in stable but life-threatening condition after surgery on his skull.

F2 driver John Surtees died last Sunday when losing control and crashing into a barrier after being struck in the head by a tire from another car.