Falling Fox Cable Hurts NASCAR Fans, Cars

Ten fans were injured and three hospitalized when a rope supporting an overhead TV camera fell from the grandstands and landed on the track surface during yesterday's NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, officials say. Fox Sports says the camera system consists of three ropes—a drive rope that moves the camera back and forth, and two guide ropes on either side—and it was the drive rope that failed near the first-turn connection and fell to the track.

The camera itself did not come down because guide ropes acted as designed," Fox said in a statement. "A full investigation is planned, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely." The incident occurred on lap 121 of the 400-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup race, delaying the race for 27 minutes while crews repaired damage to their cars. "I just heard a big thunk on the right-front side tire and thought the right-front tire blew out," says Kyle Busch, race leader when the cable came down. "That's how hard it felt." (More Fox Sports stories.)