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FIA to investigate Istanbul dog incident
LONDON (Reuters) - Turkish Grand Prix organizers could face sanctions after two stray dogs ran onto the Istanbul track and one was hit by Brazilian Bruno Senna's car during a support race on Sunday.
"This was a serious lapse in circuit security and safety," an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman said on Monday.
"How could such a thing happen at an almost brand new Formula One track?
"The FIA Safety Commission will hold a full investigation into the matter which may then be referred to the world council," he added.
Asked about possible consequences for the circuit, which made its grand prix debut in 2005 and is now managed by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the spokesman said: "Sanctions cannot be ruled out at this stage."
Senna, nephew of the triple Formula One world champion Ayrton who died in an accident at Imola in May 1994, ran over one of two dogs on the track during a GP2 race at the Istanbul Park circuit.
The 24-year-old, who had come over the brow of a hill and had only a fraction of a second to react, was lucky to escape serious injury with the impact breaking his front right suspension.
Had he hit the animal head-on, the consequences could have been far more serious for the driver.
British Formula One driver Tom Pryce was killed at Kyalami in the 1977 South African Grand Prix when he came over the brow of a hill and hit a marshal running across the track carrying a fire extinguisher.
Formula One race director Charlie Whiting said on Sunday he would send a report to the FIA.
Australian driver Mark Webber, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), told the Autosport Web site (www.autosport.com) that the matter had to be addressed.
"They (the dogs) should not be allowed to get anywhere near or inside a racing environment," he said. "It is also very dangerous for the drivers as well and the last thing, which is the least important, is that it wrecks the racing.
"It is 2008 and I think we should have venues where these things don't happen," he said.
Sunday's incident was not the first involving dogs on the track during a Formula One weekend. Practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix had to be halted in 2004 because of canine interlopers.
(Editing by Miles Evans)
