Drag racing legend John Force is in intensive care after a monster near-500km/h crash at a NHRA race meeting in Virginia.
The 75-year-old’s car suffered a “catastrophic” engine failure as he crossed the finish line to win his heat race in a time of 4.1 seconds at a speed of 487.02km/h.
The car veered out of control and struck the wall on the left-hand side, before ricocheting into the right-side wall.
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The 10,000 horsepower machine eventually came to rest in the middle of the track.
A statement from the team said Force was conscious and talking to safety crew before he was taken to hospital.
“He was transported to a nearby medical centre for further evaluation in the ICU,” the statement read.
Three weeks ago, Force won a record 157th NHRA race, and then announced he would be winding up his near 50-year career.
Three of his children – Ashley, Brittany and Courtney – also race, while his eldest Adria is his John Force Racing team’s chief financial officer.
Daughter Courtney was with him when he was taken to hospital.
“My dad’s going to be all right – I was in the ambulance with him, holding his hand,” she told Competition Plus.
“He’s one of the toughest people I know, so he’ll bounce back like he always does.”
Courtney was forced to return to the track to compete in her own races later in the day. The crash triggered an hour-long delay in proceedings.
“It’s something that’s tough. We know that’s a part of the drill. That’s how this sport goes,” she said of getting into her own car after watching the crash.
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“I wouldn’t be his daughter if I wasn’t back up here in that car, trying to win this thing with this team for him.”
Force’s teammate and protégé Austin Prock described his boss as “one tough son of a bitch”.
“He’ll be back. It’s just tough to see somebody go through that,” he said.
“I hope he’s all right. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I know he’ll be back.”
Prock would later win the race meeting. He dedicated the win to his boss.
“(The trophy) is going straight to the hospital to John Force,” Prock said from the winners’ circle.
“It’s just tough to see somebody go through that, especially when it’s somebody you really care about, but I know he’ll be back.
“We’re race car drivers and we have to flip the switch. I know John wanted us to be out here, going rounds and I’m glad we did our job.”
It’s not the first major crash of his career. Force suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash in 2007, then aged 58.
He spent four weeks in hospital, and several months in a wheelchair after his release.
– with AP