DAYTONA BEACH -- The green flag was dropped just before 1:30 p.m. on what was a beautiful Sunday, but the Great American Race gave way to the great Floridian thunderstorm, including a tornado watch later in the afternoon, that had the Daytona 500 red flagged at 2:12 p.m. for a record 6 hours 21 minutes & 4 seconds.
With only 38 laps completed before racing resuming just after 8:30 p.m., track officials were hoping get in the minimum 100 laps or be forced to red flag it again should the rain return with a large storm cell hovering over Ocala and moving this way. That would require the race to resume Monday and likely under the lights again.
Despite the earlier nasty rainstorm that had many of the 100,000-plus in the grandstands and another 20,000 or so in the infield heading for cover from sustained heavy downpours, thunder and reports of lightning behind the grandstands where heavy construction equipment has been left in place for the ongoing $400 million "Daytona Rising" modernization project.
Despite repeated stern warnings over public address system by Daytona International Speedway officials to seek protection from the lightning in particular, hundreds of fans either remained parked in their seats or milled around while others moved further up in their sections below the upper decks.
The public address announcer told fans -- who seemed unfazed -- by what was recognized as so readily by tens of thousands of others who sought protection under the stands at ground level or bathrooms, food service areas and even under the roof overhang of the race car garages -- that the Speedway would not be held liable for because they didn't heed warnings to play it safe. The track policy was reiterated to Headline Surfer® by DIS spokesman Lenny Santiago, who said of the PA announcer, "He advised the fans, but ultimately, ensuring safety is their own responsibility."
Lenny Santiago, Daytiona International Speedway's chief spokesman, who was embedded in the media center with was in constant contact with on-site track closaely monitoring the weather situation from the DIS Media Center with with The public address announcer told fans -- who seemed unfazed -- by what was recognized as so readily by tens of thousands of others who sought protection under the stands at ground level or bathrooms, food service areas and even under the roof overhang of the race car garages -- that the Speedway would not be held liable for because they didn't heed warnings to play it safe. The track policy was reiterated to Headline Surfer® by DIS spokesman Lenny Santiago, who said of the PA announcer, "He advised the fans, but ultimately, ensuring safety is their own responsibility."