Coca-Cola 600: Rope mishap injures 10 fans

Concord, N.C. • Charlotte Motor Speedway said 10 fans were injured Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 and three of them were taken to the hospital after a nylon rope supporting a Fox Sports overhead television camera fell from the grandstands and landed on the track surface.

According to CMS spokeswoman Danielle Frye, the three people taken to the hospital had "minor injuries that are not life-threatening." She said seven people were treated with "minor cuts and scrapes" on site and released.

Fox Sports released a statement Sunday night saying it hasn't determined the cause of the accident and it is suspending use of the camera system indefinitely.

"Our immediate concern is with the injured fans," Fox said in the statement.

Fox said the camera system consists of three ropes — a drive rope that moves the camera back and forth, and two guide ropes on either side. Fox said the drive rope 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. "A full investigation is planned, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely."

Fox said it has used the camera system at the Daytona 500, at last week's NASCAR Sprint All-Star race and other major sporting events.

The incident occurred on lap 121 of the 400-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

The race was delayed for 27 minutes while crews repaired damage to their cars.

Kyle Busch, going for a sweep at Charlotte Motor Speedway after winning the Nationwide and Truck series races, was leading when he incurred damage to the right front wheel well of his No. 18 Toyota. Marcos Ambrose and Mark Martin also reported damage.

No drivers were injured.

The cars were initially brought along pit row as workers cleared the ropes from the track.

NASCAR first threw a caution flag before two red flags came out. It eventually allowed the cars to come into the pits, giving crews 15 minutes to work on their cars.