Legge uninjured in 180mph crash

Legge said her biggest fear was the car catching fire

British driver Katherine Legge survived a 180mph crash during Sunday's Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America.

The rear wing of Legge's PKV Racing car came off at the Wisconsin track's notorious "kink". The car somersaulted into the barriers and broke up.

American AJ Allmendinger won, from Brazilian Bruno Junqueira and French series leader Sebastien Bourdais, with Briton Justin Wilson fifth.

"I am a bit shaken up, but I'm OK. All my bits are intact," Legge said.

"That that just goes to show how strong Champ cars are.

"It was a big impact, but hopefully everything will be fine for the next race at Surfers' Paradise.

"I don't think you are really aware of what is going on when you have a situation like I had. All of a sudden the car just sped up and hit the wall.

"Then I see the ground and there is dirt coming into the cockpit... and I see the fence.

"I think I saw parts breaking off all around me. And I think I saw the engine split away because the thing I was thinking about the most was that the car was going to catch fire.

"Then when the engine went away, I thought: 'OK, that's good.'"

The crash left debris strewn across the track, and officials stopped the race with four laps to go to clean it up and fix a portion of the fence.

Legge said she was still planning to attend the banquet for Champ Car's feeder Atlantic series, which she used to race in, later that evening.

"To be honest I think I had my eyes closed for lots of it, but it is a bit scary.

"The only problem I am having now is I banged by knee a little bit against the bulkhead. It is just a bit of bruising, which won't look too attractive in my dress at the Atlantic banquet tonight."

Former Champ Car champion Cristiano da Matta, who suffered serious head injuries in a testing crash at Road America last month, has been allowed home to continue his rehabilitation.

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Results from Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisonsin (all cars Lola chassis and Cosworth engines):

1. AJ Allmendinger (USA) one hour 54 minutes 43.700 seconds 107.967 mph
2. Bruno Junqueira (Brx) 51, 0.675secs behind
3. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra)
4. Oriol Servia (Spa)
5. Justin Wilson (GB)
6. Dan Clarke (GB) Championship positions:

1. Bourdais 338
2. Allmendinger 280
3. Wilson 269
4. Tracy 184
5. Nelson Philippe (Fra) 182
6. Junqueira 177