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CNN Saturday Morning News

Security Tight at Daytona 500

Aired February 15, 2003 - 09:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The flag drops on the Daytona 500 at noon Eastern time tomorrow, and for the expected 200,000 fans in attendance, security may be the last thing on their minds.
But there are plenty of people who are thinking about it around the clock.

CNN's Mike Brooks is live now from Daytona. Good morning, Mike.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

It's happy hour here at the Daytona 500, which means that it's a practice session for the drivers who will be competing tomorrow. But also, law enforcement is getting ready for the event also. We tried to talk since we've been here on Thursday with both law enforcement and raceway officials, but they are hesitant to talk about security measures.

But we have talked to some officers and some sources here in Daytona, and they tell us that extra officers will be added. There will be a restricted air space. In fact, this morning Black Hawk helicopters have been circling all around the aircraft -- around the raceway, rather, and the surrounding areas, familiarizing themselves with the area.

Yesterday, we spoke with some race fans to get their perspective on what they thought about security. And some of them said that they thought that raceway officials could do a little bit more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to die one day, you know, I'm already blessed. I would -- if something happens, you know, something happens. What are we going to do, stop living just because it's going -- you know, they threaten us? You know, I'm not going to stop living life because somebody else said they're going to do something, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way I see it, you know, if it's your time to go, it's your time to go no matter where you're at, whether at the 500 or the house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chemical, I think I would just check the wind and head into the wind if I could, and if it was a bomb, just pray to God I wasn't anywhere near it.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

BROOKS: As we've heard from officials, government and local, that there is a possibility of terrorists conducting a chemical, biological, or radiological attack. But as you can see, Heidi, they -- it doesn't bother them too much. They have thought about it. In fact, in this morning's paper here in Daytona, local officials have been given 200 kits of -- to help with nerve agents such as sarin and VX gas.

So they are prepared. But if we compare this security with this event and the Super Bowl, the Super Bowl was much, much tighter, Heidi.

COLLINS: Mike, judging from those fans that you spoke with, I'm guessing that attendance is not down at all. Nobody seems to be too bothered by this at the moment.

BROOKS: No, it's not going to affect attendance whatsoever. They're expecting over 200,000 people for the race here tomorrow. And there have been good crowds here all week. The weather's supposed to be good. So it's going on as planned.

COLLINS: All right. Mike Brooks, live from Daytona. Thank you.

BROOKS: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 15, 2003 - 09:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The flag drops on the Daytona 500 at noon Eastern time tomorrow, and for the expected 200,000 fans in attendance, security may be the last thing on their minds.
But there are plenty of people who are thinking about it around the clock.

CNN's Mike Brooks is live now from Daytona. Good morning, Mike.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

It's happy hour here at the Daytona 500, which means that it's a practice session for the drivers who will be competing tomorrow. But also, law enforcement is getting ready for the event also. We tried to talk since we've been here on Thursday with both law enforcement and raceway officials, but they are hesitant to talk about security measures.

But we have talked to some officers and some sources here in Daytona, and they tell us that extra officers will be added. There will be a restricted air space. In fact, this morning Black Hawk helicopters have been circling all around the aircraft -- around the raceway, rather, and the surrounding areas, familiarizing themselves with the area.

Yesterday, we spoke with some race fans to get their perspective on what they thought about security. And some of them said that they thought that raceway officials could do a little bit more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to die one day, you know, I'm already blessed. I would -- if something happens, you know, something happens. What are we going to do, stop living just because it's going -- you know, they threaten us? You know, I'm not going to stop living life because somebody else said they're going to do something, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way I see it, you know, if it's your time to go, it's your time to go no matter where you're at, whether at the 500 or the house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chemical, I think I would just check the wind and head into the wind if I could, and if it was a bomb, just pray to God I wasn't anywhere near it.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

BROOKS: As we've heard from officials, government and local, that there is a possibility of terrorists conducting a chemical, biological, or radiological attack. But as you can see, Heidi, they -- it doesn't bother them too much. They have thought about it. In fact, in this morning's paper here in Daytona, local officials have been given 200 kits of -- to help with nerve agents such as sarin and VX gas.

So they are prepared. But if we compare this security with this event and the Super Bowl, the Super Bowl was much, much tighter, Heidi.

COLLINS: Mike, judging from those fans that you spoke with, I'm guessing that attendance is not down at all. Nobody seems to be too bothered by this at the moment.

BROOKS: No, it's not going to affect attendance whatsoever. They're expecting over 200,000 people for the race here tomorrow. And there have been good crowds here all week. The weather's supposed to be good. So it's going on as planned.

COLLINS: All right. Mike Brooks, live from Daytona. Thank you.

BROOKS: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com