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Formula One: Coulthard uninjured in plane crash, Will race in Spain

2 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS - West McLaren-Mercedes driver David Coulthard is expected to race in this weekends Spanish Grand Prix despite being involved in a crash of a private aircraft May 2.

Coulthard, his fiance, American Heidi Wichlinski, and his personal trainer, Andrew Matthews, all survived, but both the pilot and co-pilot were killed.

"Obviously Im relieved that Heidi, Andy and myself are unhurt," Coulthard said, "but I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the families of the two pilots. It is inappropriate for me to go into details of the accident, but we were lucky to walk away."

The chartered aircraft, which left Britains Farnborough airport at lunchtime on a flight to Nice, France, was forced to make an emergency landing at Lyon airport in France.

Coulthard, Wichlinski and Matthews have been released after a check-up at a hospital in Lyon.

Coulthard, who won the British Grand Prix on April 23, is in second place in the Formula One World Championship behind Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

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