"It was the last lap; I saw the two leading cars race by," says Godfrey. "There were more cars coming, but I figured it was all over, so I checked my phone. Next thing I know, there's a loud noise, I look up, and an explosion of dust and debris is forming just to the right of my stand."
Godfrey, who says the three-day event was his first-ever auto race, said a "spray of car parts and a huge section of the fence" flew into the stands where he was sitting.
"The fence basically landed on me and the group of 20 people around me," he says. "I watched in what seemed like slow-motion as the side of the fence slammed right into my forehead. I did make a futile attempt to block it with my arm, but somehow forgot to duck."
According to the Associated Press, a total of 13 spectators were injured as a result of the crash. Of those injured, three were sent to a local hospital for further treatment, and were listed in good condition the evening of October 6.
As for Franchitti, his injuries were a little more serious. The AP said he sustained two fractured vertebrae, a fractured right ankle and a concussion. He was released from Memorial Hermann Hospital last Thursday and taken to Indianapolis for further evaluation.
No other drivers were injured in the crash.
"The paramedics were quick to see who needed attention and got us taken care of," says Godfrey. "They just gave me an ice pack and did some basic concussion tests."
Luckily, Godfrey was the only one in his group injured, and was able to walk away from the incident with a lump on his head, a handful of debris "souvenirs" and a large number of photographs from the scene of the accident.
"They were all smart enough to duck," he says. "My friend Daniel Drake is a bartender at La Carafe, and I'm sure he'd love to have folks come hear his tall tale of the time he almost died at the big car race."
_____________________
Ask Willie D
Mac Daddy
A reader's immature father is embarrassing the hell out of him.
Dear Willie D:
My dad is a complete embarrassment. He spends most of his time hanging around his loser, much younger friends talking about girls and what they would like to do with them, like he's in middle school. He is the old guy at the party who will dance crazy to get attention and talks like a New Age hippie so that people will think he's cool. The other day he came over to my house wearing skinny jeans.
He reminds me of the movie That's My Boy, in which Adam Sandler plays an immature slacker dad who refuses to grow up. I love my dad, but I just wish he would act like my dad instead of a weird friend who is unaware that he doesn't have to act like a juvenile delinquent to be accepted. Is there anything I can say or do to help my dad reach mental maturity?
Embarrassed Son:
Tell your dad how you feel about his immature antics, and when he does act childish, don't entertain him. As with children who act out for attention, in most cases ignoring them is the best way to go. Being attentive and catering to them only reinforces their negative behavior. Having said that, your dad is a grown man with an adult child and residual bills. He is pretty much set in his ways.
Everyone has at least one friend who relishes his role as the life of the party. The next time your dad acts like a juvenile, don't think of him as your dad. Imagine that he's the goofy, fun dude in your crew and accept him for that: the goofy, fun dude in your crew. I know that sounds crazy, but sometimes we have to do crazy things to maintain relationships with the people we love. Don't try to change him. Change your expectations of him.
Ask Willie D appears Thursday mornings on Rocks Off.