IndyCar driver Dana dies in crash at Homestead

WASHINGTON, Mar 26 (Reuters) IndyCar driver Paul Dana died today after his open-wheel car collided with another car during a practice session at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dana, 30, slammed into a car driven by Ed Carpenter at about 200 mph after Carpenter had spun, hit the wall and nearly slowed to a stop, according to Tom Blatter, a spokesman for Dana.

Both drivers were loaded onto a helicopter and delivered to Jackson Memorial Hospital in downtown Miami, he said.

''Trauma personnel worked on Paul and then pronounced him dead at the hospital a little before noon,'' Blatter said.

Dana was in his second year in the racing series, and this year he joined the Rahal-Letterman team, named after owners TV talk show host David Letterman and racing legend Bobby Rahal.

Dana qualified in ninth position for today's Toyota Indy 300, his highest ever.

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