Bizarre ambulance incident disrupts NASCAR race

Weekend Racing Wrap

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A bizarre incident involving an ambulance almost cost a NASCAR driver a shot at the championship.

Also last weekend two prominent F1 juniors enjoy successful weekends in their series and the DTM title battle closed up again.

NASCAR Cup

Race 26: Richmond

Matt Kenseth was one of the 16 drivers to qualify for NASCAR’s title-deciding play-offs despite retiring from Saturday’s 300-mile race at Richmond after a strange incident involving an ambulance. The safety vehicle’s driver failed to stop when instructed during a caution period which forced several drivers to take avoiding action. They included Kenseth, who ran into the back of Clint Bowyer. Championship leader Martin Truex Jnr described the incident as “inexcusable”.

Truex lost a healthy lead when another caution period was called with four laps to go in the race. He was then beaten out of the pits by Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin delivered the coup de grace by sticking Truex into the wall.

Nonetheless Truex heads the 16-strong play-off field which will fight for the title over the remaining ten races. The others are Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jnr, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray.

Japanese Super Formula

Race 5: Autopolis

Pierre Gasly gave his Super Formula rivals a clear demonstration of the advantage of starting on softer tyres as he scorched from fifth to second at the start of the Autopolis round. That put him en route to his second consecutive victory.

Gasly started the race on the new Yokohama soft compound, which was unproven after its introduction in the previous round of the championship. Following his superb getaway Gasly closed on leader Tomoki Nojiri, who had started from pole.

Gasly pitted on lap 23, fitting the medium for his second stint, while Nojiri failed to react, only pitting onto the soft tyre on lap 38. This was a huge mistake, as Gasly held a five-second lead after the stops, the longer soft tyre stint proving to be the right choice.

Nojiri’s race was further compromised when he collided with Kamui Kobayashi and had to pit for a new nose. This gave Gasly an easy run to the line ahead of Felix Rosenqvist – who opted to fit the soft tyre on only lap six, again feeling the full benefit of the durable yet grippy tyre. Rosenqvist’s Le Mans-Toyota team mate Kazuya Oshima completed the podium.

Gasly now lies second in the championship, 5.5 points behind Hiroaki Ishiura, with three races remaining.

European Formula Three

Races 22-24: Nurburgring

It was another productive weekend for Lando Norris
Two wins and a second place – coupled with two non-scores for closest rival Maximilian Gunther – meant Lando Norris leap to a 73-point championship lead. The rookie can clinch the title when the series moves on to the Red Bull Ring.

Norris won the first from pole position ahead of Jake Hughes and Joey Mawson – who claimed his maiden podium – while Gunther was only thirteenth and the third championship contender Joel Eriksson in tenth. Hughes went one better in race two as he started from pole position to claim his first win, with Norris following him home in second. Callum Ilott completed the podium to close in on Eriksson for third in the championship, who finished just ninth with Gunther out of the points again in 12th.

Norris further extended his advantage in race three with his ninth win of the season ahead of Hughes and Ralf Aron, the latter taking just his second podium of the season. Ilott had started on pole position but was passed by Norris after an early Safety Car and slipped to fourth at the end, with Gunther and Eriksson seventh and eighth.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Races 13-14: Nurburgring

Lucas Auer won the first race of the weekend as he reigned his championship battle at the Nurburgring, rising from sixth to second, nine points behind leader Mattias Ekstrom.

Augusto Farfus took the lead from pole sitter Auer in race one but the BMW driver was caught out by rain which arrived after his first pit stop. Williams reserve driver Paul di Resta had jumped Auer during the stops but raved his team mate by to win. Robert Wickens and Maro Engel completed a Mercedes sweep of the top four places.

Marco Wittmann took pole for race two but was jumped at the start by di Resta. Wittmann hit back and retook the lead on lap 15 and after Wickens took through the stops Wittmann again fought back. However he made contact with Wickens and fell to third behind di Resta.

Auer could only manage 13th after a spin, failing to capitalise on an opportunity to leapfrog Ekstrom in the championship having started ten places ahead of his rival.

Also last weekend

Marc Marquez took victory on the final lap at Misano to take a joint lead of the championship with Andrea Dovizioso, who finished third. Danilo Petrucci led for the majority of the race until Marquez took it from him and disappeared into the distance at the first corner, with Petrucci settling for second. Lorenzo had originally led from the start after a brilliant getaway, but fell on lap seven.

Over to you

What racing action did you watch last weekend? Let us know in the comments.

Next weekend’s racing

While Formula One heads to Singapore the following series are also in action next weekend:

  • British Touring Car Championship races 25-27: Silverstone
  • IndyCar race 17: Sonoma
  • NASCAR Cup race 27: Chicago
  • World Endurance Championship race 6: Circuit of the Americas
  • World Rallycross Championship race 10: Latvia
  • World Series Formula V8 3.5 races 15-16: Circuit of the Americas

Thanks to Robert Mathershaw (@mathers) for contributing to this article.

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14 comments on “Bizarre ambulance incident disrupts NASCAR race”

  1. Leave it to the americans to invent a new motorsport like this: EXTREME Ambulance Chasers!

  2. Really happy to see Lando Norris taking control of Euro F3. Have heard rumours of a move to GP2 with Prema next year, which is a positive! I just hope there will be a decent seat available in F1 when he’s ready to make the step up. This kid is incredibly talented from what i’ve seen over the last few years and will add to the crop of up and coming drivers either just starting, or close to starting in F1

    1. @pukktpie He seems to have really come on strong in the last couple of rounds after that earlier win-less spell. In particular his starts have improved so he’s doing a better job of converting his pole positions.

      1. @keithcollantine Yes his starts were a little concerning at the beginning of the year, so i’m glad he’s improved in that area!

  3. This is the clip of the ambulance part that is not in the highlight real.

      1. Thanks for that – I’ve added it to the article and revised the text accordingly.

  4. Next weekend there will be also the Sandown 500,the usual retro round of the Australian (ex-V8) Supercars championship.
    I really hope, that Liberty introduces a similar round into the championship, on one of the historical circuits, like Monza, Monaco or Hungaroring…
    The fans and teams are really into the event every year, everybody likes it and it offers unlimited possibilities for tie-ins, and off track fun.

  5. I’d really love to see both Gasly and Rosenqvist in F1.

  6. Wow that ambulance scenario could have been a lot worse. Why on earth stop there?

  7. Was anyone else reminded of an old 80s arcade racing game in which you bizarrely used to get overtaken by an ambulance towards the end?

  8. The ambulance incident, LOL.

    1. Real keystone cops stuff by NASCAR, luckily no one got hurt.
      As an aside I got a kick out of the pre-race four wide ‘fan salute’, as they approached which was the car whose sponsor was most visible?
      Chip’s winning 42 Kyle Larson Target car, ironic they’re dropping sponsorship, that car’s the most effective billboard out there, can’t miss it.

  9. That MotoGP summary is structured in an interesting way. :P

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