Photo: Justin R. Noe/ASP, Inc.

Pietro Fittipaldi Injured in WEC Qualifying Crash at Spa

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Writer

Dale Coyne Racing driver Pietro Fittipaldi suffered “suspected fractures to both legs” in a substantial crash during qualifying for this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship event at Circuit Spa-Francorchamps.

The 21-year-old Brazillian lost control of his No. 10 DragonSpeed BR1 Gibson LMP1 while entering Spa’s famed “Eau Rouge” section and crashed heavily into the tire barriers.

The incident forced a 35-minute delay to on-track activities as Fittipaldi was extricated from his car and taken to the track’s medical center before being airlifted to a local hospital.

The FIA released the following statement on Fittipaldi’s injury: “The driver, who was conscious at all times, was attended immediately by the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Medical Service and FIA Medical Delegate Jacque Tropenat, extracted from the car and taken by helicopter to the hospital with suspected fractures to both legs.

“He is accompanied by the DragonSpeed Team Manager and his condition is not life-threatening. As soon as more information is available it will be communicated.”

The shunt comes amid a busy time for Fittipaldi. The young star was scheduled to compete for Dale Coyne Racing in next weekend’s IndyCar Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course before completing his rookie orientation to contest the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

The Grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi was slated to contest seven Verizon IndyCar Series races this season, driving the No. 19 PaySafe Honda in a split season with Zachary Claman de Melo. He started 10th and finished 23rd in his series debut in last month’s Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix at ISM Raceway.

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Josh Farmer joined the media center in 2012 after first discovering his love of IndyCar racing in 2004 at Auto Club Speedway. He has been an accredited member of the IndyCar media center since 2014 and also contributes to IndyCar.com along with The Motorsports Tribune.