USGPRU racer Lenz killed at Indy

By John Hopkins

Road racer Peter Lenz of Vancouver, WA died from injuries sustained at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday morning.

The 13-year-old Lenz was competing in the USGPRU Rev'It Moriwaki MD250H Challenge Powered by Honda event and was involved in an accident on the warm-up lap for the second race of the weekend. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he later died from his injuries.

"USGPRU rider Peter Lenz, age 13, from Vancouver, Wash., suffered traumatic injuries in a crash on the warm-up lap of the USGPRU race Sunday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and succumbed to his injuries," said a statement from USGPRU chief steward Stewart Aitken-Cade, published on roadracingworld.com. "The other rider involved in the incident was not injured.

"USGPRU officials send their deepest sympathies and condolences to the Lenz family."

Although the statement did not name the other rider, provisional results published on the Roadracing World website list Xavier Zayat as also crashing on the warm-up lap for the race.

The Lenz family also released a statement that was published on roadracingworld.com.

"On behalf of the Lenz family, we would like to thank Peter's friends and supporters for all their help throughout the years," the release said. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, but know that Peter is racing even faster in the sky."

Lenz was leading the USGPRU national MD250H standings at the time of his accident. On Saturday he had finished fourth in the opening race of the MD250H doubleheader supporting the MotoGP event at Indianapolis.

"Our hearts go out to the parents, family and friends of Peter Lenz, said a statement from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and CEO Jeff Belskus. "Words cannot adequately express the sadness of our company and our employees about this tragic incident and Peter is in our thoughts and prayers."