Carnage during Daytona 500 practice

Daytona Beach, Fla. - A scary multi-car crash took place at Daytona on Wednesday afternoon during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, as drivers were preparing for Thursday night’s Budweiser Duel events.

When the accident occurred, some 30 cars were running in a pack when Matt Kenseth changed lanes, sending Joey Logano and Paul Menard sideways, the latter going nose-first toward the outer fence. Menard’s car caught that of rookie Parker Kligerman, who flipped over the hood of Menard and landed upside down on inner portion of track. Ryan Truex, in turn, rammed into Kligerman’s car. Other cars involved with Trevor Bayne and Dave Blaney.

As the out-of-control cars careened along the outer wall, a portion of the chain-link fence atop the wall was damaged. Track action was stopped immediately to allow track staff to tend to the drivers, to the damaged cars and to make track repairs.

“I guess it was partially my fault,” said Logano. “We were probably working too hard there and wrecked. You are seeing where cars are going and assuming where cars are going to go. Then I was there; it was unfortunate.”

Added Menard, “Joey (Logano) was bump drafting Kenseth in middle of pack while trying to get up to speed.”

Kligerman was not injured but he was upset with those who initiated the accident.

“Going into turn 3, I was trying to back out of the draft, as were going to quit for the day,” the Connecticut driver said. “The No. 22 (Logano) was being overly aggressive, and it is a shame. When you get up here, you are supposed to have the best of the best and then you have a guy who is racing people like it is the last lap of the Daytona 500. I don’t understand it, and I am pretty upset with the way it went down.”

Kenseth said, “It started when we were all running two wide. Two cars were merging and I couldn’t clear Menard and then Logano got close to me. When he got right on me, it moved my car to the left. When he slowed down, it seemed to trigger the wreck.”

This accident took place shortly after another incident involving Kligerman's teammate Cole Whitt, Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon.

In the abbreviated practice session, A. J. Allmendinger led the way at 199.327 miles per hour with Vickers and Logano a tick of the clock slower.

Practice was cancelled after the second accident and another session is planned to take place at 6:30 p.m. tonight.