Auto Racing Community Honours Dan Wheldon

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Only 6 days ago a terrible lose in the motorsport world occurred with a fatal crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's IZOD INDYCAR Series finale. Taking the life of two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon from this planet tragically, the incident left many grieving. In particularly affected by the loss of Wheldon is his wife Susie and two children.

On Saturday, the funeral for the accomplished open wheel and sports car driver took place in the British driver's American hometown of St Petersburg, Florida. Attended by Dan Wheldon's family, friends and close motorsport associates, the somber occasion was the most poignant farewell. Leaving from the First Presbyterian Church, fellow drivers acted as pallbearers to the coffin containing the athlete they were competing against the previous Sunday.

Quickly sharing their hurt feelings for their lost competitor and friend, Twitter lit up on Sunday night with drivers of all motorsport faucets voicing their condolences. Teammate during the Las Vegas race Alex Tagliani tweeted "It's a very sad day. He was my little brother from another mother he was so happy to show me is new Tattoo from last night SW on wrist". Remaining vocal on his emotions and respect for Dan Wheldon, the racer's former teammate at Andretti/Green Racing between 2003 to 2005 Tony Kanaan replied initially "No words to describe the pain. See you on the other side my dear friend. You will be missed.". A fierce competitor with Wheldon in his past progression through the European open wheel racing series, current McLaren F1 driver Jenson Button shared his impromptu eulogy on Twitter saying "I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90's, a true fighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy...".

Suffering the closest loss, Dan Wheldon's family bravely shared the life of the son, brother, husband and father through the past week. Dan's father Clive Wheldon spoke a day after the Las Vegas event saying "Daniel was born to be a racer and left us doing what he loved to do".  Susie Wheldon, wife of Dan Wheldon who first united with her father husband as his motorsport personal assistant, issued a statement of gratitude. Within Susie Wheldon's statement, she said "Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days. The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers".

A public ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis honouring the life of the great racer and outstanding human being. Former Andretti/Green Racing teammates Tony Kanaan and the newly-proclaimed IZOD INDYCAR champion Dario Franchitti will be some individuals speaking at the memorial. Also speaking as a former teammate as well as Dan Wheldon's 2011 Indy 500 car owner Bryan Herta will also share his thoughts. Randy Bernard, INDYCAR CEO, will represent the sport's sanctioning body's voice on Sunday paying tribute to Wheldon.

For fans from want to bid their deepest condolences to Dan Wheldon, his family recommends a donation to either the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund or the Alzheimer's Association. Additional charity provisions in Dan Wheldon's honour will be made through an online auction starting Monday October 24th. Benefits from the proceeds of this auction will be directed to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund.

Apart from the two memorial services and the charitable support, Wheldon's will also receive remembrance  on the race track as Dallara has pledged to name the new 2012 Indy Car after the driver. Dan Wheldon had served as the test driver for the car that will replace the current spec machine next season. In more immediate tributes to the British racer, competitions in NASCAR as well as the Australian V8 Supercar race this weekend will wear special decals in honour of Wheldon's life.

Sunday's public memorial service will take place at the Conseco Fieldhouse at 4PM local time in Indianapolis, Indiana. For fans wishing to observe the ceremony, television airing on VERSUS as well as on-line coverage will be carried on ESPNEWS, ESPN3.com, www.indycar.com, and Speedtv.com.  

The Life and Career of Dan Wheldon

Photo Credit: Michael Levitt/LAT Photo USA

First stepping into a go-kart at age four, the young Dan Wheldon grew up with a steering wheel on his hand. When he reached 21 years of age, Wheldon entered the United States marching through the open wheel racing ladder. Coming to the country operating at square one, the young Brit quickly established himself netting titles in US F2000 in 1999, Toyota Atlantic in 2000 and the 2001 Indy Lights championship. Debuting in the INDYCAR Series with Panther Racing for two races in 2002, Andretti-Green Racing (becoming Andretti Autosport in 2010) picked up the British expatriate to drive for their team in 2003. Winning Rookie of the year in that first full year of INDYCAR competition, Wheldon's career was taken to the next level with a victory at the Twin-Ring Motegi oval in 2004 followed later by wins at Nazareth and Richmond International Raceway.

Perhaps what cause be considered Dan Wheldon's dream season, the 2005 INDYCAR Season saw him in victory lane 5 times including the Indianapolis 500. Going on the win the series championship by 80 points over Tony Kanaan, Wheldon reached the big time. For 2006, Wheldon signed with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. From 2004 to 2008, Dan Wheldon's INDYCAR Career was electric with 15 wins in 97 races as he drove for both Andretti-Green Racing and later for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Along the latter part of this path, he formed a partnership off the track marrying his wife Susie in 2008. One year later, the couple welcomed their first child Sebastian.

For two seasons, Dan Wheldon raced rejoined Panther Racing. While Wheldon's time in the Panther Racing team's #4 car did not net the victorious success as compiled with Andretti-Green or Target Chip Ganassi Racing, the 2009 and 2010 campaigns together resulted in 3 runner-up positions. Two of the three 2nd place finishes in the highly competitive series were at the Indianapolis 500. Finishing 9th in the 2010 IZOD INDYCAR Series overall points, the Wheldon/Panther Racing partnership disbanded after the 2010 season.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Despite his youth and history of winning ways, Dan Wheldon sat out the start of the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series. Instead, the Brit's focus was off-track as difficult news forged with fortune early in the year. The most unfortunate news was that Wheldon's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease during the off-time from the IZOD INDYCAR Series. However, a medical information regarding his mother also involved some more positive family news. In March of this year, his wife Susie gave birth to the couple's second son Oliver.

Out of the ride for the 2011 season, a one-off deal was forged with the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport/Sam Schmidt Motorsport car. Qualifying in 6th place, Dan Wheldon did not show any rust as his lapped the track in an average speed of 226.490 miles per hour through 4 laps. While not the fastest car, Dan Wheldon and the #98 team moved up steadily through the final 10 laps. Saving fuel early, Wheldon was able to push for 2nd place through the final lap behind JR Hildebrand. On the fourth turn of the final lap, Hildebrand (driving for Dan Wheldon's former team of Panther Racing) ran wide and slammed into the outer wall. Wheldon in the last few hundred yards, sailed across the start/finish line winning the Indianapolis 500 in spectacular fashion. Wheldon's second win at the Brickyard, this latest victory was sweetened by the presence of his wife and children. A most popular win at the 100th year of the Indy 500, the Dan Wheldon win served as a favourite underdog story in modern open wheel racing.

Starting the year on the sidelines, Dan Wheldon was suddenly an in demand personality in motorsports. One of the IZOD INDYCAR Series television broadcasters Versus called upon the recent Indy 500 winner as a colour analyst for several events providing some fresh, relevant insight to races including the Texas Motor Speedway double race. Wheldon's skills were also welcomed by Dallara and the IZOD INDYCAR Series as test driver for the new 2012 Indy car. Putting the new spec car through its paces at Mid-Ohio and most recently the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wheldon was highly favoured to be racing this new vehicle next season.
In September, INDYCAR and website hosting company GoDaddy.com got together with Dan Wheldon to present a promotion at the season finale race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If Wheldon would have been able to win the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship event at Las Vegas, him, his team and a fan would split a 5-million dollar bonus. In a press conference for announcing the GoDaddy INDYCAR Challenge, Wheldon stated, "I am really excited to return in the #98 entry with SSM and BHA to follow-up our success at this year's Indy 500 and go after another race win, especially with this carrot on the end of the stick," Taking over the #77 car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Wheldon was granted a warm-up race at Kentucky finishing 14th on the day. While winning the Las Vegas race would have probably been a bigger long shot than his Indy 500 win, Dan Wheldon was just happy to be back in a race car. "I'm ready for the Go Daddy INDYCAR Challenge and, hopefully, myself and one lucky fan will be smiling on October 16." said Wheldon in September.

On lap 12 of the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the two-time Indy 500 winning driver Dan Wheldon would be 1 of 15 drivers caught up in what was probably the worst crash in INDYCAR history. Occuring as cars were travelling at 200-plus miles per hour, the impact was so hard for many drivers including Will Power, JR Hildebrand and EJ Viso. In the wreckage, Wheldon's #77 car became the concern as safety officials placed a yellow tarp over the badly torn apart Dallara chassis. Confirmed reports that the Brit was being rushed to hospital via helicopter led many to fear something bad was transpiring on what was a quiet race track. Sitting in silence, the entire Las Vegas Motor Speedway was awaiting word for the auto racing great praying for the best news. Unfortunately, a press announcement from INDYCAR's CEO Randy Bernard delivered somber news of the loss of Dan Wheldon to "unsurvivable injuries".

As his fellow drivers and everyone else affiliated with the race series were understandably in tears over the passing, drivers and the IZOD INDYCAR Series got together for an immediate tribute. Running in a three-wide formation for five laps, the remaining race cars were steered around the 1.5 mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dedicated to the memory of Dan Wheldon, those final laps at least gave teams and race fans a closing race moment following the disturbing crash scene.
On Sunday night as night set on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a memorial was created on the gates of the track where Dan Wheldon and the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport performed the masterful upset less than five months earlier. Candles were lit, flowers and race memorabilia would soon rest in a sizable shrine after only hours of the 33-year old driver's departure from Earth. More tributes are definitely in the immediate future including the suspension of the IZOD INDYCAR Las Vegas post-race celebrations in memory of Wheldon. For teams and race fans alike, we bid our deepest condolences to the young racer's family, wife and 2 young children.

Photo Credit: Daniel Incandela

Attracting a media presence that often ignores auto racing, this is ultimately not the way a driver wants to be remembered. While the mainstream public shares the condolences only realizing Dan Wheldon through the Las Vegas crash video and some dry statistics. Once hearing of his death, some will question why people would risk their lives in this competition at speed. While life is full of risks, race car drivers are individuals who live life coming the realize a challenge is not always to back away from through existence. Of course, the life of Dan Wheldon, or the many other auto racers who died in the pursuit for performance greatness, would have been much more appreciated on world for much longer but when they lived their lives inside and around race cars it might be hard for drivers to experience life at all without this particular fulfillment.

The privileged people who got to know Dan Wheldon personally through life, their pleasure of knowing the great racing driver brings the deepest sadness. As a community, we support and remember Dan Wheldon for sharing a piece of his 33 great years with a world.

Las Vegas INDYCAR Finale Ends Sadly with Dan Wheldon's Passing

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

Entering the season finale for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series, the tempo was his with the tour's return to the carnival-like atmosphere of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway's 300-mile IZOD INDYCAR World Championship would be the place where many major honours were decided. For the second-straight year, Will Power and Dario Franchitti were to do battle are top place in the driver's overall point standings. A tight rookie of the year point fight between American JR Hildebrand and Canadian James Hinchcliffe was prepared to reach a conclusion.

Finally, there was one final event on the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series title for which 34 drivers were placed in the race field to win. One of those drivers entered into the Las Vegas event was 2011 Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Completing what was a magical feat in late May, Wheldon joined Sam Schmidt Racing and the #77 team for the series' final 2011 race competing with a considerable perk of a 5-million dollar prize if he would have won the Las Vegas Motor Speedway round. As the field was staged for the last 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series race, the excitement would be far too short-lived with emotions quickly turning by lap 12.

Through one of the most packed field of open wheel racing cars the series has seen since the 1997 Indianapolis 500, there was immediate issues from the drop of green with competitors fighting for position during such an infant race. As several near misses took place on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway including a brushing of wheels between Alex Tagliani and Ryan Briscoe, the two escaped the incident without wrecking. With packs racing three-wide, even the slightest misinterpretation on-track would have caused a serious incident. Heading into turn 1 on the 12th lap in the event, a worst case scenario took place.

On the outside travelling through the first corner, the #17 of Wade Cunningham made minor contact with the #02 car of James Hinchcliffe who had recently checked up in reaction to action in front of his Newman/Haas Racing machine. Unable to retain handling of his compromised Indy car, Cunningham slid and began a fast pile-up. Travelling in excess of 200 miles per hour, cars were instantly swept up in the initial contact taking in total 15 Indy car vehicles. Jay Howard, Paul Tracy, JR Hildebrand, EJ Viso and Pippa Mann were among some of the drivers sitting in wrecked race cars as a red flag quickly flew over the race track. IZOD INDYCAR title contender Will Power was also caught up in the melee ultimately handing the 2011 championship to Dario Franchitti. Out of the car, Power would be alright but later attended the an off-site hospital with back pain concerns.

With safety crews and emergency vehicles rushing to the massive crash scene around turn 2, Mann and Hildebrand were conscious but in need of further medical attention outside of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Taken to the University Medical Center by road ambulance, worry from many race observes surrounded the #77 car that was driven by Dan Wheldon. Sustaining heavy damage, Wheldon's car was eventually centered by a yellow tarp as the condition of the driver was unknown.

As time passed and other drivers involved in the big wreck at Las Vegas were discharged from the on-site medical center, Paul Tracy detailed that doctors were surrounding Wheldon. Later, IZOD INDYCAR Series television coverage on ABC received confirmation that Dan Wheldon was on a recently-lifted medical helicopter to the same medical center as Hildebrand and Mann. With a track sitting quiet under a red flag with clean-up as well as track repairs to the safer barrier wall and track surface itself proceeding, the concern for the 33-year old British driver grew. After an hour under the red flag period, the INDYCAR Series called a closed-door meeting with all drivers in the media center. It was almost two hours after the horrible 15-car crash when word was officially relayed that the two-time Indy 500 and 2005 INDYCAR champion Dan Wheldon had succumbed to his injures.

In a brief statement, INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard read the following short message providing the racing world with news a tragedy marks the day:

"INDYCAR is sad to announce that Dan Wheldon passed away from unsurvivable injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan and his family. INDYCAR, its drivers and teams have decided to end the race. We will run a five-lap salute in honor of Dan."

Ten minutes after Bernard presented the news, drivers of the remaining 19 vehicles were assembled to perform a makeshift yet tasteful memorial to the now-departed young racing legend. For five laps, the Indy car pack circulated the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race in a three-wide formation. A gripping emotional time for the fraternity of IZOD INDYCAR Series drivers as they reentered their vehicles with knowledge of a lost competitor, and in many cases friend. As a checkered-flag flew as an end to the Las Vegas race. However, for drivers, race team members, race fans and the racing families (especially the now grieving family of Dan Wheldon), the flag does nothing to resolve the pain of losing a fellow competitor.