French race car driver Romain Grosjean has angered animal rights group PETA for ‘flippant’ comments after hitting a bird while testing for next month’s Indy 500.
Grosjean created quite a flap when describing the 230 mph bird strike in graphic terms earlier this week.
“I still have blood on my race suit, there were pieces of the bird on the rollbar. I couldn’t see where I was going any more, there’s plenty on the aero screen,” Grosjean said. “The helmet stinks, the seat stinks. I didn’t get any chicken for lunch; I just walked past it.”
Mimi Bekhechi, senior vice president for PETA in the UK and Europe, accused the track speedster of lacking empathy.
“Birds have feelings, apparently more than Grosjean does, considering that he seemed more concerned with his car, helmet, and suit – all replaceable – than the smash-up of this unsuspecting bird,” Bekhechi said in a statement.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals highlighted the plight of birds raised in factory farms and promised to send Grosjean some plant-based chicken.
It’s not the first time Grosjean has struck an animal on a racetrack, according to The Guardian.
During practice in 2018 for Formula One’s Canadian Grand Prix, a groundhog got on the course as Grosjean drove through the 13th turn.
The surprise, albeit unavoidable collision, damaged the nose of Grosjean’s car and drew his ire because he said race officials had not done enough to prevent it.
The Indy 500 is May 24.
PETA is whining about a bird but never says a peep about the barbaric halal slaughter of animals by Sharia-compliant Muslims.
Good grief.