NASCAR suspends use of aerial camera systems pending further investigation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR suspended the use of aerial camera systems Friday, nearly two months after a Fox Sports cable snapped and injured fans and damaged some cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Ten people were injured during the Coca-Cola 600 when part of the drive rope landed in the grandstand. Three people were taken to hospitals, and were checked out and released soon after.

“NASCAR has decided, in collaboration with its broadcast partners, to suspend all media partner usage of aerial camera systems that hang over race tracks,” NASCAR said in a statement. “The safety of our competitors and our fans remains NASCAR’s No. 1 priority, and until total evaluation and analysis have been completed, usage of this particular technology enhancement and any similar enhancements, has been suspended.”

Fox successfully used the CATCAM system at the Daytona 500 and the Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte. ESPN.com said Friday that ESPN had planned to use the Batcam system next weekend for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis and the Aug. 11 race at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

“We have an excellent working relationship with NASCAR and totally understand their position,” Rich Feinberg, ESPN’s vice-president of motorsports production, told ESPN.com. “We look forward to beginning our NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule at Indianapolis and televising 17 great weeks of racing.”