Indy 500 Winner Dan Wheldon Dies in Wreck
Indy Car race driver Dan Wheldon, age 33, died from injuries sustained at the Las Vegas Indy 300 today. Wheldon was involved in a horrific, fiery wreck involving 15 cars, sending his car airborne and into the fence. Wheldon moved from his native England to the United States with hopes of winning the Indianapolis 500-a feat he would accomplish twice, in 2005 and 2011. Wheldon was named Rookie of the Year in IndyCar in 2003, and was IndyCar series champion in 2005. Despite winning the Indy 500 this year, Wheldon did not have a formal ride for the season, the race at Las Vegas being his third start of the season. Wheldon was actively involved in testing the all-new Dallara chassis that will debut for the 2012 IndyCar season.
The passing of Dan Wheldon serves as a grim reminder of the risk that race drivers take whenever they strap into a race car. Wheldon was airlifted to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. When IndyCar announced his passing, officials cancelled the race, and Wheldon’s competitors were visibly upset. Dario Franchitti, who won the championship today, was seen crying in the cockpit of his race car-not the way anyone wants to achieve such a milestone. The drivers voted to do a five lap tribute to Wheldon, who took to the track in formation, while the somber sounds of ‘Amazing Grace’ were played on bagpipes.
Dan Wheldon is survived by his wife, Susie, and sons Sebastian, age 2, and Oliver, six months. The Garage extends their deepest sympathies to Dan Wheldon’s family, his team, and all his fans. As a two-time winner of one of the greatest spectacles in auto racing, Dan’s legacy in motorsport history is forever etched in stone. An exceptionally gifted driver, with an electrifying personality to boot, IndyCar, and auto racing has lost a talented and enigmatic icon.
Indy 50 winner Dan Wheldon died on October 16th, 2011 a day after his death millions have reacted to his tragic death one person in particular called my attention, his young and beautiful sister Holly Wheldon. Check her out!!
Have you loss a sister a brother? I have is terrible like part of you died with them a nightmare from which you can’t seemed to wake up, Holly Wheldon Dan Wheldon’s baby sister was at the Las Vegas Speedway when he was involved in that horrific accident that cost him his life, media have reported that Dan was taken to the University Hospital in Las Vegas. Holly Wheldon as well as her brother Elliot, sister in-law Susie and her nephews Sebastian and Olivier were by his bedside when he died.
17 year-old Holly Wheldon is the youngest and only daughter of Clive and Susan Wheldon, her older brother are Dan, Ashley, Elliot and Austin. Her beloved father owns a a plumbing and heating business in England he also is a constant companion and beloved husband to Holly’s mum Sue who on 2009 was diagnosed with Alzheime.
Holly has tweeted some heartfelt tweets about her dear and protective brother as well as she has retweeted several tweets from friends and stranger who has send their warms condolences about the tragedy.
Cant sleep this day doesn’t feel real.. Finding comfort in all your lovely tweets..Thank you for ur love and support. This doesn’t feel real
To Holly.. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your beautiful and beloved family, you lost an amazing, talented and kind brother the world loss a wonderful man, a great role model, an inspiration to many. We all feel blessed for the time we have to witness not just the great car racer he was but the warm person that touched so many lives, his memory will live forever in our hearts
The race was stopped and the remaining drivers, many of whom were visibly emotional after emerging from a meeting with IndyCar officials, will do a five-lap salute in Wheldon’s honor, Bernard told reporters.
More than a dozen cars were involved in the fiery crash. Video of the accident showed cars spinning out of control, bursting into flames, and shooting smoke and debris into the air.
Championship contender Will Power and Rookie of the Year candidate J.R. Hildebrand were also involved in the crash, according to the official Twitter page of the IZOD IndyCar Series.
Wheldon, 33, was in line to win $5 million if he captured the checkered flag at Sunday’s race.
After his second Indy 500 victory, Wheldon talked with CNN’s “American Morning” about the intensity of the race track.
After his second Indy 500 victory, Wheldon talked with CNN’s “American Morning” about the intensity of the race track.
“We’re doing speeds in excess of 225 miles per hour. With this race, you never know what can happen. It’s about staying focused and you really don’t ever let off the power unless you have to,” he said.
Hollywood actress Ashley Judd, who was at the race supporting her Scottish auto racer hubby Dario Franchitti, also paid tribute to 33-year-old Wheldon.
She tweeted: "As we continue to absorb Dan's accident - we forget, remember, re-experience shock, denial, anger, pain - I'm reminded of a favorite poem."
The movie star then quoted John Donne's famous sonnet: "DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so, For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow, Due not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest & sleepe, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure then from thee, much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee doe goe, Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie. One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.."
She added: "Hardest parts, Thinking about Susie, Sebastian, Oliver. Seeing my husband grieve. Nights are so awful at first. Poor woman. Such pain."
Wheldon died of blunt head trauma in the crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a post-mortem has found.
Coroner Michael Murphy Mr Murphy said the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner died of head injuries at the Las Vegas hospital where he was taken after Sunday's crash.
Mr Murphy ruled it an accident.
Wheldon was pronounced dead at 1.54pm Sunday local time at University Medical Centre in Las Vegas.
The race was called off after Wheldon's death.
Las Vegas (CNN) — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died Sunday of “unsurvivable injuries” sustained during a multi-car wreck at the Las Vegas Indy 300. He was 33.
The rest of the race — the marquee event of the IZOD IndyCar World Championships — was canceled.
“IndyCar is sad to announce that Dan Wheldon passed away from unsurvivable injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan and his family,” IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said.
The remaining drivers, many of whom were visibly emotional after emerging from a meeting with IndyCar officials, did a five-lap salute in Wheldon’s honor.
The rest of the race — the marquee event of the IZOD IndyCar World Championships — was canceled.
“IndyCar is sad to announce that Dan Wheldon passed away from unsurvivable injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan and his family,” IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said.
The remaining drivers, many of whom were visibly emotional after emerging from a meeting with IndyCar officials, did a five-lap salute in Wheldon’s honor.
