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Wheldon out of work after Indy 500 win
Source: Agencies |
May 31, 2011, Tuesday
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DAN Wheldon earned a million dollar pay-day for his Indianapolis 500 victory on Sunday and the Briton could use the money since he will be without a job at midnight.
Despite a resume that includes two Indy 500 wins and an IndyCar series championship, Wheldon will be back looking for work between changing his son's diapers as his one race deal with Bryan Herta Autosport ends.
"I think my contract expires at midnight tonight," smiled Wheldon, who was to learn his exact share of the estimated US$14 million purse later yesterday. "He (team owner Bryan Herta) is sacking me at midnight tonight.
"It's one of those things that is difficult. I really feel I have the talent to be in a full-time seat."
"I'm sure I will be back changing diapers tomorrow."
If Wheldon's first race of the season was also his last, he made the most of his opportunity claiming an unlikely win after rookie American J.R. Hildebrand crashed into the wall within sight of the finish line.
Runner-up at the Brickyard the last two years, Wheldon had been resigned to a third straight second place finish but instead was gifted a second victory as his car charged past Hildebrand's wreck.
Little smile
"It's unfortunate but Indianapolis can bite you," said Wheldon. "When I saw him crash I knew it wasn't serious, there was a little smile on his (Hildebrand's) face.
"From that point it was just making sure I didn't do anything silly. Then I think I got on the radio and started crying. I'm normally not that emotional.
"But having been through what we've been through, being able to deliver this for everybody was certainly gratifying.
In his 10th season on the IndyCar circuit there are few drivers with better records than Wheldon currently on the starting grid but he remains without a full-time seat.
In Concord, North Carolina, Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of fuel on the final lap, costing him a drought-breaking victory in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Charlotte, as Kevin Hardwick swept past to take the race win.
Earnhardt looked like taking his first checkered flag in almost three years but the tank in his Chevrolet ran dry along the back straight on the last lap. He tried to coast his way through the final turn but Harvick zipped past.
Both Earnhardt and Hildebrand are sponsored by the National Guard, and the dramatic reversals spoiled what would have been a celebratory Memorial Day for the military.
Despite a resume that includes two Indy 500 wins and an IndyCar series championship, Wheldon will be back looking for work between changing his son's diapers as his one race deal with Bryan Herta Autosport ends.
"I think my contract expires at midnight tonight," smiled Wheldon, who was to learn his exact share of the estimated US$14 million purse later yesterday. "He (team owner Bryan Herta) is sacking me at midnight tonight.
"It's one of those things that is difficult. I really feel I have the talent to be in a full-time seat."
"I'm sure I will be back changing diapers tomorrow."
If Wheldon's first race of the season was also his last, he made the most of his opportunity claiming an unlikely win after rookie American J.R. Hildebrand crashed into the wall within sight of the finish line.
Runner-up at the Brickyard the last two years, Wheldon had been resigned to a third straight second place finish but instead was gifted a second victory as his car charged past Hildebrand's wreck.
Little smile
"It's unfortunate but Indianapolis can bite you," said Wheldon. "When I saw him crash I knew it wasn't serious, there was a little smile on his (Hildebrand's) face.
"From that point it was just making sure I didn't do anything silly. Then I think I got on the radio and started crying. I'm normally not that emotional.
"But having been through what we've been through, being able to deliver this for everybody was certainly gratifying.
In his 10th season on the IndyCar circuit there are few drivers with better records than Wheldon currently on the starting grid but he remains without a full-time seat.
In Concord, North Carolina, Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of fuel on the final lap, costing him a drought-breaking victory in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Charlotte, as Kevin Hardwick swept past to take the race win.
Earnhardt looked like taking his first checkered flag in almost three years but the tank in his Chevrolet ran dry along the back straight on the last lap. He tried to coast his way through the final turn but Harvick zipped past.
Both Earnhardt and Hildebrand are sponsored by the National Guard, and the dramatic reversals spoiled what would have been a celebratory Memorial Day for the military.
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