Auto racing driver Helio Castroneves talked about the tense moments inside his Napa Valley hotel on Sunday when the 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck.
Castroneves spoke to USA Today Sports at the Sonoma Raceway and described being frightened because he was not exactly sure what was going on.
“I thought it was a plane crash," the Brazilian Indycar driver said. "It was this rumbling noise and it completely trashed the bathroom. It was like a movie, and I was in it.
"A very scary moment. I'm still shaking," he added.
President of Penske Racing Tim Cindric was also in the hotel with the 39-year-old Castroneves. He tweeted that the 6.0 quake they survived was no fun. He then tweeted a photo of some of the damage sustained in the hotel bar.
Last call!! pic.twitter.com/PnVvBdEab7
— Tim Cindric (@TimCindric) August 24, 2014
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning the large earthquake shook the California Bay Area.
The quake, which was the largest to hit the region since 1989, left widespread damage including tens of thousands without power, gas leaks and fallen debris from buildings.
image via Twitter courtesy of Tim Cindric