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Indy 500 champ Wheldon dies after fiery crash at Las Vegas
Source: Agencies |
October 18, 2011, Tuesday
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BRITISH IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon has died after a horrific 15-car crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday which left the motor sports world in shock.
The 33-year-old, a two-time winner of the Indy 500, was involved in a multi-car accident 13 laps into the Las Vegas Indy 300 which sent his vehicle flying and left wreckage and debris across the track.
Wheldon's car flew over another and caught part of the catch fence just past the apex of turn two.
The incident left Townsend Bell's car upside down and smoldering cars strewn along the track. Three other drivers, including championship contender Will Power, were hurt in the pileup.
Wheldon, who lived in St Petersburg, Florida, was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas for treatment before his death was announced two hours later.
"IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries," IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today."
The race was cancelled and drivers returned for a moving and tearful five-lap tribute.
Popular figure
A popular figure, Wheldon was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion and he won the Indy500 race that year and also in 2011 - the 100th anniversary of the event. It was IndyCar's first fatality since Paul Dana was killed at Homestead in 2006 during a crash in a morning warmup. Wheldon won the race later that day.
Wheldon, who came to the United States from England in 1999, won 16 times in his IndyCar career.
When the drivers returned to the track, Wheldon's fellow British driver, Scotsman Dario Franchitti, was sobbing uncontrollably as he was strapped back into his car.
"I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff," said Franchitti, who avoided the incident and with the cancellation of the race won his third straight series title. "I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it's about. One small mistake from somebody...
"Right now I'm numb and speechless," he said. "One minute you're joking around in driver intros and the next he's gone.
"He was six-years-old when I first met him. He was this little kid and the next thing you know he was my teammate," said Franchitti, who raced together with Wheldon at Andretti Green Racing.
Crews lined up along the pit lane and fans in the stands stood silently as the drivers paid tribute to Wheldon.
Wheldon, who did not have a regular ride this season, could have won a US$5 million prize which was on offer at the Vegas event for a non-full-time winner of the season finale.
The Englishman had not raced since winning the most recent Indy 500 in May.
He also raced for Panther Racing and his final team Bryan Herta Autosport.
Wheldon leaves behind his wife Susie and their two young sons.
The 33-year-old, a two-time winner of the Indy 500, was involved in a multi-car accident 13 laps into the Las Vegas Indy 300 which sent his vehicle flying and left wreckage and debris across the track.
Wheldon's car flew over another and caught part of the catch fence just past the apex of turn two.
The incident left Townsend Bell's car upside down and smoldering cars strewn along the track. Three other drivers, including championship contender Will Power, were hurt in the pileup.
Wheldon, who lived in St Petersburg, Florida, was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas for treatment before his death was announced two hours later.
"IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries," IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today."
The race was cancelled and drivers returned for a moving and tearful five-lap tribute.
Popular figure
A popular figure, Wheldon was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion and he won the Indy500 race that year and also in 2011 - the 100th anniversary of the event. It was IndyCar's first fatality since Paul Dana was killed at Homestead in 2006 during a crash in a morning warmup. Wheldon won the race later that day.
Wheldon, who came to the United States from England in 1999, won 16 times in his IndyCar career.
When the drivers returned to the track, Wheldon's fellow British driver, Scotsman Dario Franchitti, was sobbing uncontrollably as he was strapped back into his car.
"I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff," said Franchitti, who avoided the incident and with the cancellation of the race won his third straight series title. "I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it's about. One small mistake from somebody...
"Right now I'm numb and speechless," he said. "One minute you're joking around in driver intros and the next he's gone.
"He was six-years-old when I first met him. He was this little kid and the next thing you know he was my teammate," said Franchitti, who raced together with Wheldon at Andretti Green Racing.
Crews lined up along the pit lane and fans in the stands stood silently as the drivers paid tribute to Wheldon.
Wheldon, who did not have a regular ride this season, could have won a US$5 million prize which was on offer at the Vegas event for a non-full-time winner of the season finale.
The Englishman had not raced since winning the most recent Indy 500 in May.
He also raced for Panther Racing and his final team Bryan Herta Autosport.
Wheldon leaves behind his wife Susie and their two young sons.
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