•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

Sydney. Australian IndyCar star Will Power said on Wednesday that the Las Vegas Motor Speedway where two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died was a “recipe for disaster”.

Power suffered neck and back injuries in the 15-car crash that killed the Englishman at the Las Vegas 300 IndyCar series final on Sunday.

The deadly pile-up ended Power’s bid to overtake Dario Franchitti and claim the series title.

“We were all worried after the first practice day that the racing on this sort of track is too fast, and too close,” the Australian told Sydney’s Triple M radio station.

“When you’re averaging 370 kilometers per hour and you’re inches apart, it’s too high of a speed, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

“It just takes one little mistake from someone and the result’s never good. It’s never a soft hit, it’s always a hard hit at a wall, a big crash,” added Power, one of three drivers taken to hospital after the crash.

“The formula can be fixed. The formula right now — the way the cars are, the way the downforce is, the horsepowers, it creates pack racing. I’m sure they are going to take a pretty close look at it now after what happened.”

Las Vegas Speedway president Chris Powell has said his track met every IndyCar Series regulation and claimed he heard no concerns before Wheldon died.

Drivers from around the auto racing world have questioned the wisdom of having a 34-car field, the largest IndyCar lineup outside the Indianapolis 500 where racers have weeks of practice.

Power said he was still coming to terms with Wheldon’s passing.

“It was a very sad day for IndyCar to lose a guy like Dan, a champion — it’s unbelievable,” he said.

“He was a very fierce competitor, a great guy off the track,” a clearly emotional Power added.

Agence France-Presse