Comunicati Stampa - After crash in Canada, F4 driver Lundberg apologetic to Malik

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After crash in Canada, F4 driver Lundberg apologetic to Malik

SAINT-PIE, QUÉBEC — American Spike Lundberg’s aspirations in the World Ovals Sanair 150 were dashed on the first lap of a 180-lap feature at Sanair Super Speedway.

Lundberg took a DNF and finished 33rd in the 33-car field of Formula 4 cars after a two-car crash on Lap No. 1. Moments after the hard crash, Lundberg apologized to Indonesian driver Jon Malik, whose race also ended early.

“(Malik) had a fast car, we had a fast Visit Indonesia Ford-powered Tatuus, and I totaled them both on the second turn of the race,” Lundberg said. “I’m overwhelmed at how disappointed I am with myself.”

Lundberg started the race 12th on the grid, and Malik was in the 10th position. After a fast start, Lundberg attempted to pass Malik’s car on the high side of Turn 2. Lundberg’s car came down the 25-degree banking, and the American teenager’s left rear tire clipped Malik’s right front, sending metal and carbon flying and putting both cars into the outside retaining wall.

Malik is now 13th in the World Oval Series standings with two top-10 finishes. Lundberg slid from fifth to eighth position, finishing 33rd in the sixth of seven races on the tour.

“Dead last. Dead ass last,” Lundberg said. “It’s absolutely unacceptable for me and for my team. Worst of all, I took another guy with me. I just want to truly and sincerely apologize to Jon Malik.”

Great Britain’s Sue Lawley won the race and maintained the lead in the World Ovals standings with one race remaining at Autodromo Rafaela in Rafaela, Argentina.

His streak of four top-10 finishes done, Lundberg, 18, is turning toward life after the world tour. Though he has few connections to French racing, and grew up watching IndyCar and NASCAR, Lundberg will move across the Atlantic Ocean to race in the French Formula 4 Series.

“I don’t speak any French,” Lundberg said. “I have a business connection through friends of friends in Normandy. My plan is to take a primary car and a backup car, set up in a small garage in Bois-Guillaume, find a good French mechanic or two, and race for a season.”

The young driver aims to learn from the crash in Quebec.

“I was too aggressive at the start,” Lundberg said. “I made a pass I didn’t have any business making, and I wadded up two perfectly good race cars trying to do it. It’s completely on me.”