Indy Driver Alex Lloyd Hoping Daughter Arrives Late

UPI Photo/Michael Bush/Landov

May 24th is a big day for Alex Lloyd! Not only is the race car driver participating in the Indy 500 that day, but his wife Samantha is also due to give birth to the couple’s second daughter! Samantha laughs that when their doctor told the couple their baby girl’s expected arrival date, “I thought, it’s just typical!” Alex is trying his hardest to not think about the fact that Samantha could go into labor during the race and has instructed his crew members not to give him updates if she does!

“I’m just going to drive faster and when I get the checkered flag, then they can tell me if something has happened. If they tell me, I’m just going to tell them to open the gates and let me go because I can get there in this car a lot faster than I can in another car.”

Samantha completely agrees with Alex and does not want anything to distract him during the race. She is planning on just sitting there and listening to the race, “hoping [the baby] stays in there. I’m hoping to see the whole thing, and I don’t want them [the crew] to say a single word until he’s out of the race.”

However, Alex is mistaken about one thing — the length of time it may take to deliver! Samantha spent 28 hours in labor with the couple’s first child, 19-month-old Ava, and he believes that this labor could be just as long. “I’d probably have time to finish the race, chill out, have a cup of tea and still have 12 hours to go,” said the 24-year-old, not realizing that second labors often move faster.

The couple have already chosen the name Bethany for their daughter “but if she arrives on race day, we’ll probably have to switch and go with something with a little more racing flavor,” explains Samantha. However, Alex is hoping that she arrives a little later than planned! “It’s going to be in the next week or two, hopefully not this week. I’m hoping it’s one day later [than the due date].”

The Indy 500 will begin at 1 p.m. on May 24th, with Alex starting in 11th position.

Source: Associated Press

– Angela

Comments

That is so odd that he’d rather not know that his wife is in labor while he’s racing. IMO, his wife and child should be more important than a race.

- Amber on May 21st, 2009

Amber, when you are racing at over 220mph, it’s best not to have any distractions.

- Jenna on May 21st, 2009

Having a baby should be his first priority. If his wife goes into labour he should pull out of the race and support her.

- Anna on May 21st, 2009

I am not in any way a racing fan… but I agree with Jenna… it would be rather dangerous to get told news like that. There is always the chance of panic, when you are told something like that. I agree that his family should be his first priority, but I do not think that he should be told while actually on the track.

- Niki on May 21st, 2009

If he is distracted by anything, he could hurt or kill not only himself but many other people, including drivers, pit crew, and fans. Besides, it sounds like Samantha agress with him not being notified, so who are we to judge?

- Caitlin on May 21st, 2009

Anna-I am sure his sponsors would be a little upset if he just left the race. They pay him HUGE money to be out there racing. Also, I have to say, if I were his wife, I would not want him to do that. Also, I would be on board with the not telling him at all if she were in labor because it would provide a MAJOR distraction and, as Jenna said, when he is racing at 220+ MPH the last thing he needs is anything other then the race on his mind.

- Kelli on May 21st, 2009

Money is not more important than family, you can only see your child being born once. It’s his choice, I just don’t agree with his priorities.

Liev Schreiber went home when his son went to hospital, I’m sure his contract said he had to promote his movie but he chose his son over his contract.

- Anna on May 21st, 2009

Seeing as he is not new to racing I think both he and his wife knew that the risks of getting pg and being due during a race….It is his job and his job is to stay in the race.

Hope all goes well!!

- Courtney on May 21st, 2009

Him driving at 220mph has nothing to do with the fact that he could possibly miss his child’s birth. If that was my husbands career and I went into labor during a race, you better believe he would pull out of that race and rush to my side without a moment’s hesitation. Your child is only born once, and it seems like he’s putting the race before his own family.

- Amber on May 21st, 2009

I don’t think anyone is really judging (for once!) they are just giving opinions – it is his choice. I personally do not agree with it, but I am not going to call him names or criticize his parenting skills because of it, and none of the posters here have either. We are so use to judging on these boards that when we disagree we confuse it with judging. He will later regret or be happy with his decision regardless of if he misses or attends the birth.

- Paper Clip on May 21st, 2009

I posted earlier….

I AM surpised that they are not doing a planned C before the race. I know from being close to several hockey players wives that they plan a C to make sure the husband is home…

- Courtney on May 21st, 2009

Honestly, all of this is probably a moot point. This is her first pregnancy, which does give her a slight edge on being late. As he pointed out, labor typically lasts hours. Even if his wife does go into labor during the race, he’d most likely be able to finish up and get there in time to see his baby born. It’s just not likely it that she’ll go into labor on her due date, right when he’s about to race, and have the baby before he can get there.

- MZ on May 21st, 2009

MZ this is their second baby but I agree with you that the likelyhood of all this actually happening is very slim.

- Brandi on May 21st, 2009

It’s not her first pregnancy, they already have a little girl. I think he has to do this race, his child is only born once but there are tons of fathers who couldn’t attend to their kid’s birth, it’s not that bad, he’s not an awful father. If everything goes well, there is no reason that his family is not still there a few hours later. His work is demanding, I’m sure he has no choice and his wife understand it

- Solène on May 21st, 2009

I agree, the chances of it actually happening are slim. Also, I’m sure he and his wife have understood the nature of his “work” since day one and have both accepted it. He kinda has to be there since there’s so much money involved with these types of things. It’s not really like a team sport like baseball or football where you could miss and there’s someone to replace you. If you’re the driver of the car no one can replace you. They prepare for years for these races.

- SH on May 21st, 2009

Courtney, your post is so sad. I am not surprised but still, thats not right to plan the c-sections just becuase of the hockey games and stuff. Thanks for posting it

As for the post above, I hope with all the respect he’s just joking, however this kind of joking is kind of sick. My cousin was recently killed on the road by a road racer and I cant believe this guy even jokes about taking his racing car onto the road and race to the hospital. I honestly dont think he should be allowed to race at all if his wife is so close to teh birth. I also think he can hurt or even kill someone when distracted.

- Nikka on May 21st, 2009

Whoops! It is her 2nd baby. Missed that. Still, I’m sure her labor wouldn’t be *thaaat* fast.

Best of luck to them!

- MZ on May 21st, 2009

I agree Anna and Amber – baby arriving safely more important than a race! He should be supporting her and excited about his own daughter’s arrival into the world than another race! I respect sportsmen who put their partner/kids first, such as Tiger Woods, who seems a doting husband and daddy!

- Sam & Freya's Mum on May 21st, 2009

I agree Anna and Amber – baby arriving safely more important than a race! He should be supporting her and excited about his own daughter’s arrival into the world than another race! I respect sportsmen who put their partner/kids first, such as Tiger Woods, who seems a doting husband and daddy!

- Sam & Freya's Mum on May 21st, 2009

I agree Anna and Amber – baby arriving safely more important than a race! He should be supporting her and excited about his own daughter’s arrival into the world than another race! I respect sportsmen who put their partner/kids first, such as Tiger Woods, who seems a doting husband and daddy!

- Sam & Freya's Mum on May 21st, 2009

I agree Anna and Amber – baby arriving safely more important than a race! He should be supporting her and excited about his own daughter’s arrival into the world than another race! I respect sportsmen who put their partner/kids first, such as Tiger Woods, who seems a doting husband and daddy!

- Sam & Freya's Mum on May 21st, 2009

I’ve heard this news and hope the Lloyd’s new bundle of joy arrives healthy and before or after the 24th

I’m sure Samantha understands. Most racing wives do.

Good luck to Alex on both the race and the new baby.

- Paige on May 21st, 2009

I would normally be on the “go home to be with your family” side of the argument, but not in this case. Honestly, the odds are very slim that his wife will actually give birth while he is racing. And hello? He is a race car driver in the Indy 500. That’s not just some small race. He and his wife both knew what they were getting into when they decided to start a family, and when he made the decision to be in this race. And they both seem perfectly fine with the situation. It’s also inaccurate to compare this to any guy out there who’s choosing to miss his child’s birth to do something work-related.

Think of it like this: The NBA basketball playoffs are going on right now. What would happen if Kobe Bryant or LeBron James missed just one game to be at their wives’ sides while they were in labor? It would be detrimental to their entire team, to their sponsors, to the millions of people who would lose money by them not being at that game. Would it suck to miss the birth of your child? Heck yes. But when you are a professional athlete, with LOTS of pressure riding on you, that’s what you need to think about before you sign your contract, not after.

So yeah, I understand this situation. What I don’t understand is how my friends, who are expecting their first baby on July 4th, are seriously considering inducing labor a week prior, so that their child “doesn’t end up with a birthday on the 4th of July”. THAT’S selfish.

- SMC on May 21st, 2009

SMC – I 100% agree with your post.

- Lis on May 22nd, 2009

SMC im due july 4th as well and hoping to have teh baby earlier but in no way we’re inducing or anything !! If shes born early, great, if she’s born on July 4th …. great !

When shes born shes born. And if my husband is a pro athlete, or any other kind of professional then he would still take time off to be wtih us.

On other note i read about a lady who was really mad her OB wouldnt induce her a month eary before the end of year so she could deduct teh baby expenses from taxes. That got my blood boiling. (the lady not the OB)

- Nikka on May 22nd, 2009

SMC- I agree. We need to remember that some of these guys may not have have the option of taking time off to be with their wives.

Personally, as long as the wife is okay with it, I really don’t see an issue.

- CelebBabyLover on May 23rd, 2009

The race is starting and she is having contractions.

- Holly on May 24th, 2009

Race car drivers wives are like military wives, they know their hubby may not be there at certain times. That is the way of life in the profession. What if he were a surgen and had an emergancy surgery when his wife was in surgery?

When our daughter was born, husbands (Fathers) didn’t even go into the delivery room. No one but the drs and nurses did. When I was born, my Dad dropped my Mom off at the hospital ’cause she had a backache. Dad had to on home to the farm to check on cattle that were having calves and needed to be put in the barn because of the snowstorm they were in the middle of. She knew that the cattle came first as that was their livelyhood. Yes, he missed my birth and I was the only child but that’s the way it had to be. Both were just happy everything went OK. (I was 6 weeks early).

This decision is just what I would want my hubby to do. Her first daughter was born after 28 hours of labor so she wasn’t too worried. She was in the pits during the race cheering her hubby on. Don’t think she was in too bad shape! Good for her.

- corvetter on May 24th, 2009

Holly- I doubt she’s having contractions. That sounds like a tabloid report to me.

- CelebBabyLover on May 24th, 2009

CelebBabyLover: She was interviewed twice on camera during the race, she was having contractions.

- corvetter on May 25th, 2009

I should add, I’m a racing fan. I have been to and watch NASCAR and Indy. Watched the entire race yesterday.

- corvetter on May 25th, 2009

I saw the race too, and she did say the contractions were 10 minutes apart. She was a trooper and stayed at his pit box watching the whole race. She was quite cute and mentioned that she would head to the hospital if the contractions got to 5 minutes or less because she didn’t want the pit crew to have to deliver a baby on top of everything else.

She made it to the end of the race and I read this morning that they ended up at the hospital last night, but were sent home because the contractions were stress induced:)

- Jill on May 25th, 2009