Nascar Mexico, Accidente fatal de Carlos Pardo-14-06-09-VIDEO

NASCAR MEXICO driver Carlos Pardo was leading the race on the 97th lap when his car was nudged by a competitor from behind and slid sideways into a wall at the entrance to the pit lane at about 120 mph Sunday. The car disintegrated as a result of the impact. Pardo was removed from the wreckage and sent by helicopter to a hospital. The NASCAR Mexico Web site reported that he died 45 minutes later. Pardo was later declared winner of the race in Pueblo, east of Mexico City. He won the series championship in 2004 and had 10 career victories in 74 races. Pardo made one Nationwide start in the 2006 TelCel Motorola 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. He started 35th and finished 42nd after radiator problems knocked him out of the race. Pardo also made six Camping World East starts, twice finishing 11th.