Motorsports

Speed reading

By BRANT JAMES
Published May 6, 2006

Kasey Kahne's condition was first diagnosed after a crash by a volunteer emergency worker Sunday at Talladega, again highlighting a major belief among drivers: NASCAR needs a full-time, traveling, professional medical team like Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.

Kahne said that his request for "a minute" to catch his breath was taken as a sign of trouble, which prompted a trip to the hospital and the need for Kahne to gain medical clearance to race tonight at Richmond.

When asked two months ago about what he thought was NASCAR's most pressing issue, driver Ryan Newman said: "First thing that comes to mind is a traveling safety team, the idea of having specific people there at the track to be able to be responsible for the drivers and crew chiefs, team members, anybody, media for that matter. If (Charlotte Observer writer) David Poole has a certain kind of asthma or something like that, anything, they'll know. (NASCAR) has the medical liaison, which is nice; it's a step in the right direction. But from a safety aspect, putting the cars out when they are on fire, and things like that, I think that is something that would help the entire organization, the entire body of people that is there, especially with the whole five-year tribute to Dale Earnhardt and all that stuff, what things have happened and that is one that would be good."

JE LE VEUX MEANS "I DO': St. Petersburg resident and two-time defending Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais will wed long-time girlfriend Claire Ragot today at the Cathedral Saint Julien in Le Mans, France.

Bourdais, who won the opener at Long Beach on April 9, is No. 1 in Speed Channel's weekly driver ranking. He is the first non-Formula One driver to hold the spot in the ranking.

[Last modified May 6, 2006, 02:15:18]