Woman injured by debris at St. Petersburg IndyCar opener plans to sue

Attorneys for the woman injured by a piece of flying debris at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 29 have informed city officials of their intent to sue, the Tampa Bay Times reported Friday.

Brigitte Hoffstetter, who is sixth months pregnant, was struck while in a concession areaseveral hundred feet from the race track, fell backwards, according to court documents, and suffered a depressed skull fracture. She was released from Bayfront Medical Center on March 31.

Lawyers for Hoffstetter claim the city committed "negligent acts or omissions" in failing to "adequately protect spectators and/or individuals from the dangerous condition of flying debris or other projectiles." Florida sovereign immunity statutes limit damage rewards from government entities to $300,000.

The St. Petersburg race was the first using new aerodynamic body kits designed to enhance performance and create differentiation between manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda. Speeds spiked with their use, and contact common on the 1.8-mile street course proved destructive to their various winglets and pods, creating uncommon amounts of debris. Pieces other than the one that struck Hoffstetter escaped catch fences designed to protect fans, witnesses told USA Today Sports.

According to the Times report, Hoffstetter’s lawyers filed a separate suit against the city to preserve the fragment that struck her. Verizon IndyCar Series spokesman Mike Kitchel confirmed to USA Today Sports Saturday that the series possesses the fragment believed to have injured Hoffstetter and would surrender it to her attorneys upon request.

Officials from Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which stages the race under a five-year contract, did not immediately respond to an interview request. Kitchel said IndyCar had not as of Saturday received notification of a lawsuit or a formal complaint. USA Today