Driver dies in 24 Hours of Le Mans race

LE MANS, France (AP) -- Danish driver Allan Simonsen died Saturday following a crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, race organizers said.<br /> <br /> The 34-year-old Simonsen was taken to the hospital Saturday after his Aston Martin No. 95 crashed about 10 minutes into the race.<br /> <br /> Simonsen spun at high speed and his car skidded into the barrier at the Tertre Rouge corner.<br /> <br /> He died at the hospital soon after arrival "due to his injuries," organizers said.<br /> <br /> Simonsen was participating for the seventh time at the endurance race.<br /> <br /> The safety car came out after the accident and the race was held up for nearly an hour to repair the guard rail.<br /> <br /> Simonsen finished second in the GT2 class at Le Mans three years ago. He had the fastest time in qualifying Thursday in the GTE Am class.<br /> <br /> Simonsen and Danish co-drivers Kristian Poulsen and Christoffer Nygaard were leading the GTE Am class in the world endurance championship after topping their category at Silverstone in April and finishing second in Spa-Francorchamps last month.

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