Paul Newman Uninjured in Daytona Car Fire

[kskiska]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman escaped injury Saturday when the race car he was testing caught fire following a spin at Daytona International Speedway.

Newman was driving a Daytona Prototype sports car for next month's Rolex 24 when he spun on the road course, said Adam Saal, Grand American Series spokesman. The car didn't hit anything, but when Newman tried to restart the engine it caught fire.

The fire was contained to the engine compartment, and Newman escaped without harm. He was taken to the track's infield medical center and released after a brief exam.

(snip)

The 79-year-old Newman won the GTS class in the 1995 Rolex 24 and owns four championships in Sports Car Club of America competition. He first took an interest in auto racing while filming "Winning" in 1968.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=7&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_sp_au_ra_ne/car_newman_crashes

[MissBrooks]

1. He is so cool!

Imagine being 79 years old and still driving a race car.

What a man!

I'm so glad he is okay!

[Fiona]

2. that's amazing

I bet he kept his turn signal on the whole way, though.

[TacticalPeek]

7. LOL

:)

[CottonBear]

3. Paul is way cool.

I saw him race at Road Atlanta in 1978. I saw him walk to the prize stand to receive his awards! He's quite a small person but a huge presence.

edit: sp.

[ima_sinnic]

13. funny you should say that!

I caught a glimpse of him in the pits at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix ca 1974, as we were slowly driving by--he had just stepped out of a racecar and it appeared almost grand entrance-like, it was a visually powerful moment, as though a hole had opened up in the clouds and a ray of sun was spotlighting him--in my mental Kodak he in his brilliant racing whites is positively glowing!

(it couldn't appear this way in my mind because I think he is the hottest man alive or anything . . .) :D

[kskiska]

4. He used to drive around Westport in a VW with a Porsche engine

There'd be reports in the local paper on how someone was stuck in the snow and Paul would drive up in his souped-up VW. I used to see him while shopping – he held the door for me once. No one around there bothers him or asks for autographs. A friend of mine did some roofing work on his house. He invited the guy in to join a party in progress, even though he was in his workclothes. He's involved in lots of community projects.

[Osamasux]

5. And he does a lot for Dems.

I think he and his wife were the largest donors to Diane Farrell's campaign against Chris Shays of Connecticut in 2004. Newman's Own is the real deal in quality and charitable giving. He's a national treasure.

[kostya]

8. He showed up in one of the Cleveland Dem volunteer centers

while I was there to cheer us on. He was so gracious and funny, he really brought up the energy level for us. - K

[K8-EEE]

6. Damn!! He's A MAN!

And a Dem man at that, yeow!!

[NNN0LHI]

9. Is this the same guy who makes the spaghetti sauce? n/t

[silverweb]

11. Spaghetti sauce...

salad dressings... lemonade... steak sauce... salsa... popcorn... cookies....

http://www.newmansown.com/

All very yummy... and every penny of profit goes to charity.

[chuckrocks]

10. too bad mcqueen's not around

those two could have done some serious trouble making, and damn good movies. oh- and his salad dressings rock.

[lazarus]

12. What a coincidence

I wasn't injured in a Daytona car fire today, either. As a matter of fact, I've never been injured in a Daytona car fire.

Or am I being silly here?