Motorbike Racer Peter Lenz, 13, Killed at Indy
Croatia's Mario Mandzukic scores a goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and Croatia in Poznan, Poland, Thursday, June 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) / Antonio Calanni
Updated at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
A 13-year-old motorcycle racer died Sunday after falling off his bike and getting run over by another motorcycle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Peter Lenz of Vancouver, Wash., was pronounced dead by the Marion County coroner after sustaining "traumatic injuries." The accomplished teenage rider crashed on a warmup lap before his race and was struck by 12-year-old Xavier Zayat, who was uninjured in the accident.
Medical workers immediately placed Lenz in a neck brace, put him on a stretcher and began chest compressions while taking him to a hospital. The coroner confirmed his death about 3 hours later, the first at the speedway since IndyCar driver Tony Renna was killed in October 2003.
"Peter passed away early this morning when he was apparently struck by another rider," said a posting Sunday on Lenz's Facebook page, which was signed "Dad."
"He passed doing what he loved and had his go fast face on as he pulled onto the track," the posting said. "The world lost one of its brightest lights today. God Bless Peter and the other rider involved. 45 is on another road we can only hope to reach. Miss you kiddo."
Lenz rode the No. 45 bike. It wasn't immediately clear whether his parents were in Indianapolis and a home phone number for the family was not listed.
Track officials confirmed that Lenz is the youngest racer killed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which opened in 1909 and has been used by numerous series ever since.
"On behalf of the Lenz family, we would like to thank Peter's friends and supporters for all their help throughout the years," the family said in a statement passed out to reporters. "We are deeply saddened by the loss but know that Peter is racing even faster in the sky."
The family said additional thoughts and messages could be posted on the Facebook page.
The crash delayed the start of the U.S. Grand Prix Racers Union event in which Lenz was scheduled to start, but the three races sanctioned by the MotoGP Series all started on time.
USGPRU spokesman Bill Syfan did not respond to interview requests from The Associated Press, but a news conference was scheduled for later Sunday.
Despite being only 13 years old and listing his profession on the Grand Prix website as "kid," Lenz was already a well-known racer. He had been riding bikes for six years, won nine national championships and nine regional titles, and appeared to be a rising star in a series that bills itself as a prep for riders 12 to 18 who hope to compete at a higher level.
Those races are not typically held in conjunction with MotoGP events.
The fatal accident Sunday will almost certainly spark a debate about how young is too young for racers to be competing on one of the world's best-known tracks, whether it's inside a car or riding a motorcycle capable of speeds well over 100 mph.
Speedway officials declined to comment on the issue but pointed out that East Coast Region riders also compete at Virginia International Raceway and Road America, while the West Coast Region holds races at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah and Portland International Raceway.
MotoGP riders Colin Edwards and Ben Spies competed at even higher levels as teens. Edwards ran his first 250cc race at 17, while Spies made his first start in the 125cc series at 12.
Racing conditions were not ideal this weekend.
Hot, dry weather turned Indianapolis Motor Speedway's bumpy, 2.621-mile course into a slick track that was challenging even for the world's best riders.
Reigning world champ Valentino Rossi fell four times since practice opened Friday, including a spill Sunday morning during a 20-minute warmup session. Spies and points leader Jorge Lorenzo also acknowledged after qualifying Saturday that the track was difficult.
The Moto2 race Sunday was shortened after a big wreck took out four drivers on the first lap. Eight drivers did not finish that race.
Lenz had three third-place finishes this season in the 125GP class and had won three races in the MD250H class, which was the race being run Sunday.
By AP Sports Writer Michael Marot
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A 13-year-old motorcycle racer died Sunday after falling off his bike and getting run over by another motorcycle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Peter Lenz of Vancouver, Wash., was pronounced dead by the Marion County coroner after sustaining "traumatic injuries." The accomplished teenage rider crashed on a warmup lap before his race and was struck by 12-year-old Xavier Zayat, who was uninjured in the accident.
Medical workers immediately placed Lenz in a neck brace, put him on a stretcher and began chest compressions while taking him to a hospital. The coroner confirmed his death about 3 hours later, the first at the speedway since IndyCar driver Tony Renna was killed in October 2003.
"Peter passed away early this morning when he was apparently struck by another rider," said a posting Sunday on Lenz's Facebook page, which was signed "Dad."
"He passed doing what he loved and had his go fast face on as he pulled onto the track," the posting said. "The world lost one of its brightest lights today. God Bless Peter and the other rider involved. 45 is on another road we can only hope to reach. Miss you kiddo."
Lenz rode the No. 45 bike. It wasn't immediately clear whether his parents were in Indianapolis and a home phone number for the family was not listed.
Track officials confirmed that Lenz is the youngest racer killed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which opened in 1909 and has been used by numerous series ever since.
"On behalf of the Lenz family, we would like to thank Peter's friends and supporters for all their help throughout the years," the family said in a statement passed out to reporters. "We are deeply saddened by the loss but know that Peter is racing even faster in the sky."
The family said additional thoughts and messages could be posted on the Facebook page.
The crash delayed the start of the U.S. Grand Prix Racers Union event in which Lenz was scheduled to start, but the three races sanctioned by the MotoGP Series all started on time.
USGPRU spokesman Bill Syfan did not respond to interview requests from The Associated Press, but a news conference was scheduled for later Sunday.
Despite being only 13 years old and listing his profession on the Grand Prix website as "kid," Lenz was already a well-known racer. He had been riding bikes for six years, won nine national championships and nine regional titles, and appeared to be a rising star in a series that bills itself as a prep for riders 12 to 18 who hope to compete at a higher level.
Those races are not typically held in conjunction with MotoGP events.
The fatal accident Sunday will almost certainly spark a debate about how young is too young for racers to be competing on one of the world's best-known tracks, whether it's inside a car or riding a motorcycle capable of speeds well over 100 mph.
Speedway officials declined to comment on the issue but pointed out that East Coast Region riders also compete at Virginia International Raceway and Road America, while the West Coast Region holds races at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah and Portland International Raceway.
MotoGP riders Colin Edwards and Ben Spies competed at even higher levels as teens. Edwards ran his first 250cc race at 17, while Spies made his first start in the 125cc series at 12.
Racing conditions were not ideal this weekend.
Hot, dry weather turned Indianapolis Motor Speedway's bumpy, 2.621-mile course into a slick track that was challenging even for the world's best riders.
Reigning world champ Valentino Rossi fell four times since practice opened Friday, including a spill Sunday morning during a 20-minute warmup session. Spies and points leader Jorge Lorenzo also acknowledged after qualifying Saturday that the track was difficult.
The Moto2 race Sunday was shortened after a big wreck took out four drivers on the first lap. Eight drivers did not finish that race.
Lenz had three third-place finishes this season in the 125GP class and had won three races in the MD250H class, which was the race being run Sunday.
By AP Sports Writer Michael Marot
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Seen this way, the acceleration of childhood competition into death-defying acts is not an expression of autonomy, but a subversion of it. It is a hijacking of the normal desire of gifted young people to grow and develop to a Lilliputian land of meaningless world records.
In this give-it-to-me-right-now culture, it?s getting hard to find parental restraint anywhere. Lured by the come-hither power of media and technology, we are brokering away the tranquility of childhood, entirely. We dress our children like adults. We hand out condoms to sixth-graders, playing to their "impulses" (or our displaced ones), just as we do when we create events that pit them against one another in bizarre athletic competitions.
In these circumstances, the law may be the best brake on runaway, thrill-seeking, fame-hungry, ego-driven, money-obsessed parents and organizations. If it can be proven that no one could reasonably assure a 13-year-old of anything like safety while racing at the speedway Sunday, then let the civil litigation begin. Maybe a successful action against the track and the Racers Union group would be noticed. Or maybe a dozen of Peter Lenz?s close friends could prevail in a suit against his parents. See, when parents abandon their proper role protecting their children, plenty of kids can get hurt?not just their own
Does no one know how to read or have any sense of comprehension anymore? The article plainly stated that the boy passed away doing something He Loved to Do. I am sure the parents struggled with the decision to allow him to race in the first place, knowing the dangers the child faced. As the mother of a daughter who races cars, I KNOW what this is like. My daughter started racing at the age of 14 (which is the legal age for a racer on a track here in Canada). As a mom, I feared for her daily. She had to take a racing course (which as the youngest in the class she passed with flying colours), and her car was built to her specs. Her very first race was a heart-wrenching experience, but she did awesome and came in 17 out of 25. Not bad for 14. But then, the phone call came one Thursday night while doing a practice run. She hit an oil slick and went into the wall at 120km's/hour. She hit so hard her helmet flew off. I made to to the hospital, which was 75km's away in record time. Yes, seeing my baby on a board strapped down with a neck brace was terrifying. Thank God she was ok. A few scrapes, some bruises, and a written off car. BUT, she still wanted to continue. She does what she loves. And she is Good At It. She is now 16 and could probably out drive most adults I know. Not to mention, as someone else already pointed out, country kids (such as mine) begin driving cars, ATV's, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes, as young as 8-9. Most parents who allow their kids to get into the competitive side of it make sure that the kids KNOW that they are on a vehicle that can KILL and are taught Respect, and a thorough knowledge of how said vehicle operates. No One I know has let their child enter into any competition without taking all of the risks into account.
JMHO as a mom of a teen racer...
FYI: Thousands of kids die or get hurt playing school sports, yet nobody is appalled by it. Get real.