Motorsport: Cunningham holds lead despite crash

New Zealand racing driver Wade Cunningham has kept his points lead in the 2005 Menards Infiniti Pro Series despite an early trip into the barriers at the 12th round of the US series in Chicago yesterday.

Cunningham was a victim of a four-car incident on the sixth lap at the Chicagoland Speedway.

Jay Drake, running second on lap six, tried to squeeze past Sarah McCune, but as he did so his car's right front wheel touched McCune's left rear wheel, sending her spinning backwards into the wall.

On the way she collected Cunningham and three other drivers. The drivers were checked at the infield medical centre and released, though an hour later Cunningham said he was still pretty sore.

The 21-year-old former world karting champion, who started yesterday's race with a 33-point lead in the series, was running a high line in sixth or seventh place when the accident happened. Cunningham's car was a write- off.

His long-time lead has been reduced to 23 points over Travis Gregg, with Jeff Simmons moving up to third place.

Cunningham's focus now switches to the penultimate round of the season at New York's Watkins Glen circuit on September 24-25. The final round at the California oval is on October 16.

- NZPA