Suspect in Michael Schumacher medical file theft found dead

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A man that was arrested Tuesday in Zurich, Switzerland over the suspected theft of Michael Schumacher’s medical files has been found dead in a prison cell according to city prosecutors.

The Associated Press reports that the man was found hanged in the cell this morning. He was set to appear at a hearing and had denied any wrongdoing.

The man’s name has not yet been released but it’s been confirmed that he worked for the Rega air ambulance service.

Rega organized the seven-time Formula One World Champion’s recent transfer from a hospital in Grenoble, France to Lausanne, Switzerland, where he’s began rehabilitation after his skiing accident on December 29, 2013.

Early in July, Rega lodged a criminal complaint over the leak of Schumacher’s medical files while adding that it had no knowledge of any misconduct from its employees. Schumacher’s family also filed a criminal complaint as well.

A subsequent investigation by Zurich prosecutors yielded Tuesday’s arrest of the Rega employee. Those prosecutors have said that their initial findings indicate no one else was involved and the case is now likely to be closed.

In a statement, Rega CEO Ernst Kohler said that the company has been left “sad and speechless” by today’s news. Kohler added that the company is giving its condolences and support to his relatives.

Last month, Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm, first released a statement saying that someone was trying to sell her client’s medical files.

Kehm also said that the family would pursue criminal charges and damages against any media outlet that chose to use the confidential records for publication.

Schumacher was put into a months-long, medically-induced coma shortly after sustaining severe head injuries in his skiing accident in the French Alps. The racing great woke up from the coma this past June.

IndyCar Power Rankings: Pato O’Ward moves to the top entering Texas Motor Speedway

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The NBC Sports IndyCar power rankings naturally were as jumbled as the action on the streets of St. Petersburg after a chaotic opener to the 2023 season.

Pato O’Ward, who finished second because of an engine blip that cost him the lead with a few laps remaining, moves into the top spot ahead of St. Pete winner Marcus Ericsson and Alexander Rossi, who finished fourth in his Arrow McLaren debut. Scott Dixon and St. Pete pole-sitter Romain Grosjean (who led 31 laps) rounded out the top five.

St. Pete pole-sitter Romain Grosjean (who started first at St. Pete after capturing his second career pole position) Callum Ilott (a career-best fifth) and Graham Rahal entered the power rankings entering the season’s second race.

Three drivers fell out of the preseason top 10 after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – including previously top-ranked Josef Newgarden, who finished 17th after qualifying 14th.

Heading into Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, here’s NBC Sports’ assessment of the current top 10 drivers through the first of 17 races this year (with previous preseason rankings in parenthesis):


NBC Sports’ IndyCar Power Rankings

1. Pato O’Ward (5) – If not for the dreaded “plenum event” in the No. 5 Chevrolet, the Arrow McLaren driver is opening the season with a victory capping a strong race weekend.

2. Marcus Ericsson (7) – He might be the most opportunistic driver in IndyCar, but that’s because the 2022 Indy 500 winner has become one of the series’ fastest and most consistent stars.

3. Alexander Rossi (10) – He overcame a frustrating Friday and mediocre qualifying to open his Arrow McLaren career with the sort of hard-earned top five missing in his last years at Andretti.

4. Scott Dixon (3) – Put aside his opening-lap skirmish with former teammate Felix Rosenqvist, and it was a typically stealthily good result for the six-time champion.

5. Romain Grosjean (NR) – The St. Petersburg pole-sitter consistently was fastest on the streets of St. Petersburg over the course of the race weekend, which he couldn’t say once last year.

6. Scott McLaughlin (6) – Easily the best of the Team Penske drivers before his crash with Grosjean, McLaughlin drove like a legitimate 2023 championship contender.

7. Callum Ilott (NR) – A quietly impressive top five for the confident Brit in Juncos Hollinger Racing’s first race as a two-car team. Texas will be a big oval litmus test.

8. Graham Rahal (NR) – Sixth at St. Pete, Rahal still has the goods on street courses, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan remains headed in the right direction.

9. Alex Palou (4) – He seemed a step behind Ericsson and Dixon in the race after just missing the Fast Six in qualifying, but this was a solid start for Palou.

10. Will Power (2) – An uncharacteristic mistake that crashed Colton Herta put a blemish on the type of steady weekend that helped him win the 2022 title.

Falling out (last week): Josef Newgarden (1), Colton Herta (8), Christian Lundgaard (9)