Belskus: Fatal accident not IMS fault

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials will review the decision to continue hosting junior-level motorcycle races as part of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, but the track's leader said Monday that the tragic accident that killed 13-year-old rider Peter Lenz could have happened anywhere.

"It didn't involve our facility," said Jeff Belskus, chief executive officer of the Speedway and its parent company, IMS Corp. "It wasn't like he hit one of our walls.

"One rider ran into him and that can happen anywhere, as unfortunate as it is. (Motorcycle riders) do run into each other from time to time."

Lenz, Vancouver, Wash., died of traumatic injuries after being struck by another competitor, 12-year-old Xavier Zayat, Flushing, N.Y. Lenz fell on the warm-up lap near the exit of the road course's fourth turn, which is where the riders transition back onto the oval track in the south short chute. He was struck as he stood up to indicate he was uninjured. "Turn four is one of the slower parts of the track," Belskus said. Indy Star