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V8 Supercar racer James Courtney was injured when an Australian Navy helicopter fly-over dislodged debris near pitlane, which struck and injured the racer, media in Australia is reporting.
Courtney was transported to a local hospital with relatively minor injuries, but is expected to remain there for several days, effectively ending his race weekend. Courtney is currently fifth in the championship standings with five races to follow this weekend’s Sydney Motorsports Park SuperSprint. Courtney’s missed weekend effectively ends his championship run.
According to reports, Courtney was struck with debris when the helicopter performed a low flyover before the event. Courtney reported shortness of breath and minor injuries before his pit crew requested a doctor examine him.
“James puts on a brave face. We have to force him to do the right thing and send him to hospital. I know him better than most people and I could see he was in a lot of pain,” Holden Racing Team chief Adrian Burgess told News.com in Australia.
Other racing teams said the helicopter was flying exceptionally low.
“Madness, just madness,” Triple Eight Racing chief Roland Dane said. “The whole place was shaking like an earthquake. We had all our stuff blowing out of the back of the garage. One bloke in a wheelchair was very lucky he wasn’t hit.”
The Royal Australian Navy said it would investigate the incident.
Courtney was diagnosed with broken ribs and a pneumothorax, which is a pocket of air trapped in the lungs that can partially or completely collapse a lung.
(Photo courtesy V8 Supercars Australia)
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