Posted on 10/16/2011 3:21:06 PM PDT by drewh
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died Sunday in a fiery 15-car wreck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his car flew over another on Lap 13 and smashed into the wall just outside turn 2.
Wheldon was 33. Drivers were told of Wheldon's death in a meeting about two hours after the fiery, smoky crash that many drivers said was the worst they had ever seen.
He won the Indianapolis 500 twice, including this year.
"IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries," IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race. In honor of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five-lap salute to in his honor."
It was like a movie scene which they try to make as gnarly as possible," said Danica Patrick, making her final IndyCar start. "It was debris everywhere across the whole track, you could smell the smoke, you could see the billowing smoke on the back straight from the car. There was a chunk of fire that we were driving around. You could see cars scattered.
"I'll tell you, I've never seen anything like it," Ryan Briscoe said. "The debris we all had to drive through the lap later, it looked like a war scene from Terminator or something. I mean, there were just pieces of metal and car on fire in the middle of the track with no car attached to it and just debris everywhere. So it was scary, and your first thoughts are hoping that no one is hurt because there's just stuff everywhere. Crazy."
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Terrible crash. Prayers with Weldon’s family.
sad....
Condolences to Mr Wheldon’s universe.
I happened to be watching Indy today. Horrible wreck.
Youtube video of the crash posted in a previous thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2793679/posts?page=7#7
What a heartbreaker. What a lovely little boy. So very, very sad.
Listneing to “Amazing Grace” now at the track on TV. R.I.P.
Worst I’ve ever seen.
RIP
and just damn.
May God Bless Dan and his young family !!
The drivers are doing a three-wide, slow five-lap tribute to Dan Wheldon as bagpipes play Amazing Grace.
I have never seen such a horrific crash! It’s amazing that other drivers were not injured as badly as Weldon. R.I.P.
Thanks for info.
My husband I go to many Indy races. Have met Dan Wheldon many times (he also lives here in our town, St. Pete, FL). Great guy, great family. This is horrible. The two kids are young.
Thanks for the link. My God..those cars were flying through the air. Just 33 years old, the same age as my oldest son.
Dan was one of my favorites... This really hit me hard. I have been sick for 2 hours waiting for the word that I knew would come.
I love watching indycar races, but as I have grown older and get a better feel for mortality, I have become very uncomfortable and anxious watching these races on the high banks. It is like I hold my breath for 2 hours and I find that I have more satisfaction from the checkered flag coming out than my favorite driver winning.
RIP Dan...Great Driver...And you would have been a great play by play man in the booth.
Just thought I would vent with my FRiends.
Bloody hell, cars and pieces of cars and burning debris strewn for several hundred meters. What a horrific crash.
Don’t know all that much about the man, but have read several articles about him, his family, and his victory in Indy.
I sounds harsh, but that is racing. You never know, today could be your last. I’ve quit watching racing partially from seeing too many die. I still love auto sports, but I’ve lost my taste for the competition from too many years watching people who I respected and admired being chopped to pieces.
RIP Dan, may God bless your family.
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