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Freak Accident Nearly Kills Grand Prix Racer

Car part bounces off track, fractures Felipe Massa's skull

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 26, 2009 11:05 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A Brazilian auto racer is in “life-threatening,” though stable, condition after a spring from another car bounced off the track and hit the driver in the helmet, knocking him unconscious as he drove into a barrier, the Independent reports. Felipe Massa’s surgery for multiple skull fractures was “reassuring,” noted his doctor, who said the Brazilian Ferrari driver, who was competing in a Hungarian Grand Prix qualifier, had suffered no brain damage.

An official talks to the brother of Felipe Massa as Massa is placed in a helicopter after his accident during the Grand Prix qualifying session at the Hungaroring circuit yesterday.
An official talks to the brother of Felipe Massa as Massa is placed in a helicopter after his accident during the Grand Prix qualifying session at the Hungaroring circuit yesterday.   (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)
A spring similar to the one which hit Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil is shown with an Arai race helmet at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest, Hungary, today.
A spring similar to the one which hit Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil is shown with an Arai race helmet at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest, Hungary, today.   (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Scuderia Ferrari is carried out of his car yesterday after he was knocked unconscious by a flying car part.
Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Scuderia Ferrari is carried out of his car yesterday after he was knocked unconscious by a flying car part.   (AP Photo/MTI,Tamas Kovacs)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
kokuaguy
Jul 27, 2009 1:51 AM CDT
Fantastic comment, Rocket. And in answer to NObama, have you talked to any seniors lately about how they like their coverage? In polls they are far more favorable about it than most of those who have private health insurance plans.
ABO_2012
Jul 26, 2009 9:10 AM CDT
Obama lies. You will be forced into a government health plan run much like Medicare b/c no one else will be able to compete. You WILL have to give up your current plan. Obama lies.
scubasteved
Jul 26, 2009 8:18 AM CDT
Really guys? come on this has nothing to do with health care... and even if it did he is an F1 driver, meaning he has money, let alone the fact that he is not from the US or even in the US when it happened. He got lucky as hell that he was not killed by that spring, so lets not talk about health coverage.

 
auto racing • accident • Hungary • Ferrari • hospitalization • head injury • Felipe Massa • freak accident

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