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Big wreck mars Keselowski's victory at Talladega
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Carl Edwards'
battered car soared 15-feet off the ground, scraping along the safety fence, then bouncing back onto the track in flames. Wreckage from the last-lap accident spewed into the stands, sending two fans to the hospital
in the aftermath of yet another "Big One" at Talladega Superspeedway.
Fotos: Aaron's 499 NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR
Video: Carl Edwards' Horrible FlipThe frontstretch safety fence bowed upon impact, but held, and seven fans were injured from the flying debris. An eighth seated in that section of the grandstands was treated for an undisclosed medical condition.
Edwards, who climbed from the fiery wreckage and crossed the finish line on foot, was thankful it wasn't worse.
"I don't know if I could live with myself if I ended up in the grandstands," Edwards said.
Dr. Bobby Lewis, Talladega's onsite physician, said two people in the crowd were airlifted from the track to avoid the heavy traffic. One woman had a possible broken jaw, and none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
Edwards said he hoped the near-miss caught the attention of NASCAR, which sets the rules used in Sunday's race.
"We'll race like this until we kill somebody," Edwards said, "then (NASCAR) will change it."
The dangerous but dramatic restrictor-plate racing came under fire after Edwards' attempt to block Keselowski's winning pass triggered the last of several frightening accidents at one of the sport's most exciting tracks.
Keselowski pushed Edwards past Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. into the lead on the final lap, and the 25-year-old Earnhardt protege peeked around Edwards as they closed on the finish line. Edwards ducked low to block the pass, but Keselowski was too close and couldn't avoid contact that sent Edwards into a spin up the track and into Newman's path.
Edwards' car flew over the top of Newman's hood, then shot into the frontstretch fence.
Terra Autos / AP
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