Experts Defend Circuit In Senna Death Trial

Two experts testified in Imola, Italy, Wednesday that the Imola circuit met safety standards set by the International Auto Racing Federation (FIA) and was not to blame for Ayrton Senna’s fatal 1994 crash.

Testifying in the manslaughter trial of six Formula One officials, Antonio Dal Monte and Roberto Nosetto also said that Senna could not brake the car properly when his Williams-Renault lost grip while speeding off the track at the Tamburello corner.

But Dal Monte said even slowing the car before its impact with the concrete wall would not have saved Senna’s life.

“We can attribute Senna’s death to the unfortunate trajectory of the wheel after the crash,” said Dal Monte, a professor of sports science.

The front wheel’s suspension arm pierced the three-time world champion’s helmet. The brain damage was fatal.

Prosecutor Maurizio Passarini contends that the failure of a modified steering column prevented Senna from negotiating the corner.

Andretti crew chief fined

Tony Furr, crew chief for Pepsi 400 winner John Andretti, was fined $50,000 before that race when NASCAR inspectors found an illegal carburetor mounting.

During a routine inspection before the race at Daytona International Speedway, inspectors found carburetor mounting studs designed to move. NASCAR rules require carburetor mountings to remain fixed.

New mounting studs were installed before Saturday’s race and Andretti went on to win his first-ever Winston Cup race.

Hall inductees named

Three NASCAR greats will be inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in Darlington, S.C., on Aug. 30. Buddy Baker, Jack Ingram and the late Neil Bonnett will be inducted at Darlington Raceway before the Mountain Dew Southern 500 Winston Cup race.

Sharp improving

Scott Sharp, hospitalized after sustaining a brain hemorrhage in the Indy Racing League event two weeks ago at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado, is recuperating.

Sharp was momentarily confused backing hard into a wall. While he had full use of his body, blood on his brain gathered on his speech-control center and he was briefly unable to talk.

The 29-year-old Sharp returned to his Danville, Calif., home for further recuperation.