Formula One Racer Maria De Villota Hospitalized After Crash

Spanish Formula One test driver Maria De Villota was in hospital with facial and head injuries after her Marussia car hit a parked truck at an airfield in eastern England. The Russian-licensed team said in a statement that the 32-year-old, who was driving the MR-01 car for the first time, had just completed an installation run at Duxford when she had the accident at around 0810 GMT.

"Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing," the team said after she was taken to Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge, the region's major trauma centre.
East of England ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said the driver had "sustained life-threatening injuries".

The emergency medical charity Magpas said on their website (www.magpas.org.uk) that De Villota had facial and head injuries and was stable. BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who was at the Imperial War Museum-owned airfield for the straight-line test ahead of the weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, said the car "inexplicably accelerated" into the back of the team's parked support truck.

"The driver's helmet was impacted on the side of the truck," he reported. "It just happened suddenly, a very shocking incident. "The car slowed down as you see happens during a grand prix, for it to then be reversed into the pits which was actually a tent. But at the last second it just suddenly accelerated again so by the time it hit the truck, it was doing 30 or 40 miles an hour."

Mann said De Villota, 32, was trapped in the car for a considerable time with emergency services attending her immediately. "It appeared to me she wasn't moving for about 10 or 15 minutes. We saw her move her hands after about a quarter of an hour and it took almost an hour for the ambulance (staff) to feel confident to take her out of the car."

The driver is the daughter of former F1 racer Emilio De Villota. She was appointed test driver of Marussia in March, making her the only woman in such a role at the time although Williams have since handed a similar development role to Suzie Wolff.  De Villota has raced in various series and tried out a Renault Formula One car in August.

Marussia's race regulars are German driver Timo Glock, who missed the last grand prix in Valencia through illness, and Frenchman Charles Pic. The British-based team, who were formerly known as Virgin Racing and have not scored a point since their F1 debut in 2010, have no reserve driver and De Villota lacks the necessary super-licence for the role.

NASCAR's Most Famous Daughter Taylor Earnhardt Weds

Taylor Nicole Earnhardt, daughter of Teresa Earnhardt and 7-time NASCAR Champion, Dale Earnhardt tied the knot on Saturday, May 25, 2012 to Brandon Samuel Putnam in Mooresville, North Carolina.  The wedding with a southern flair was designed by celebrity event planner David Tutera took place at the Earnhardts' private estate. The couple exchanged their vows in a romantic outdoor evening ceremony at a lakeside arbor nestled under the trees with stained glass panels suspended from surrounding trees. The bride was transported to the ceremony by horse-drawn carriage, the horse, a gift from her father when she was a little girl. Taylor wore a customized lace wedding gown by Rivini and walked down the aisle to "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts, performed by an eight-piece string ensemble. After saying their "I Do's," the couple rode to their reception in a vintage 1946 cherry red pickup truck that was from Dale Earnhardt's Classic Car Collection.

Taylor and Brandon's guests were escorted by horse and carriage to the reception space on the estate, where they celebrated under a rustic open air pavilion that had been constructed especially for the wedding.

Guests were treated to hand-rolled cigars, a fine whiskey tasting bar and a bespoke perfume bar, along with entertainment by country artist Jared Ashley.

The custom pavilion where the reception was held is now available to the public to rent for weddings and other special events. The unique space has a rustic, southern elegant feel, adorned with specially-commissioned antiqued stained glass windows by local artists, vaulted ceilings, custom woodwork and crystal chandeliers. The newly constructed space opens up to a back terrace overlooking a lake and is the only open air structure of its kind that includes heated flooring, so guests can dance the night away no matter the weather.

Taylor Earnhardt, 23, is a professional rodeo competitor and devotes herself to supporting the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, a charitable organization that is dedicated to children, education and wildlife preservation. She is also the Director of Equestrian Development for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. She is currently studying equine business, reproduction and training to use in her future endeavors. She is the daughter of Dale and Teresa Earnhardt of Mooresville, North Carolina. Her father, seven-time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt, was the co-founder of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Her mother Teresa is the co-founder and current CEO of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated based in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Putnam, 25, is the owner of Hi Tech Incorporated, a grading and trucking company in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also competes in rodeo professionally and is an avid hunter. He graduated from Central Piedmont Community College and received a degree in Fire Science. He is the son of Sam and Julie Putnam of Charlotte, North Carolina. His father Sam is a retired landscape and grading company owner and CEO, and his mother Julie is an accountant and financial manager for several grading and land care companies in Charlotte, North Carolina.