Dan Wheldon

normnorm Posts: 31,146
edited October 2011 in All Encompassing Trip
this years winner of the indy 500 died today in a horrific accident at the indycar race in las vegas

he leaves behind a wife and two sons: a two-year old and a six month old

:cry:
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • tinkerbelltinkerbell Posts: 2,161
    edited October 2011
    I just heard this on the radio, people saying worst crash ever seen, involving 15 cars. Horrible.... :(
    Post edited by tinkerbell on
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  • lukin2006lukin2006 Posts: 9,087
    RIP...very sad...
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  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    Worst wreck I have ever seen. I always liked him. Too sad.
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  • DS1119DS1119 Posts: 33,497
    :(
  • Just fuckin awful. :(
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  • djsuzdjsuz Posts: 45
    Just fuckin awful. :(

    I echo this. :cry:
  • youngsteryoungster Posts: 6,576
    This is terrible news. So sad :(
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

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  • ShimmyMommyShimmyMommy Posts: 7,505
    I am so sorry for all of them. This is heartbreaking. Love, light and hugs to him and his family.
    Lots of love, light and hugs to you all!
  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 41,812
    WOW! :( just got home and heard about this. thoughts and prayers to everyone involved.
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  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,695
    Horrific seems too mild a descriptor.
    Wow.
    Thoughts to his family.
    This weekend we rock Portland
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    An update on the condition of other drivers involved in the wreck: Will Power has been evaluated and released from the hospital. Pippa Mann and JR Hildebrand are awake and alert, and will be held overnight for further evaluation.



    the remaining drivers got back in their cars and did a 5 lap tribute to dan

    http://www.speedtv.com/video/auto-racin ... 1660902001
  • :(

    that is awful. the sport lost one of the good ones today. i always liked the way he raced.

    here is a link that shows the crash. it is pretty gnarly...there is nothing left of a few of those cars.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

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  • RiotZactRiotZact Posts: 6,240
    Just saw it on sportscenter, wow...........just horrible :cry:
  • hostishostis Posts: 441
    RIP Dan. heartbreaking. x
  • ClaireackClaireack Posts: 13,561
    Saw it on the news this morning. A terrible shame.
  • RygarRygar Posts: 8,685
    Claireack wrote:
    Saw it on the news this morning. A terrible shame.
    Likewise.
    RIP
  • Worst accident I've seen on the track.
    RIP.
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  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    Wheldon was a true champion and will be missed. A huge loss for motorsports ...

    R.I.P.
  • eddieceddiec Posts: 3,859
    RIP Dan. A great driver. Thoughts go out to his family.
  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,182
    RIP...Very sad a great driver that will be missed positive ((((((VIBES)))))) and thoughts go out to the family.

    Peace
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  • WobbieWobbie Posts: 29,941
    IRL bears a lot of responsibility for this. They never should have been running on that track. All cars are identical....they can't create any separation....and they're going 220 mph.

    I'm sad to see this sport fading into obscurity. Went to a race in August....most of the drivers are pretty friendly.
    If I had known then what I know now...

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  • ilockyerilockyer Posts: 2,269
    A tragic loss. A shame so few here in the UK knew of his achievements... until this :(

    RIP
    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
  • EnkiduEnkidu Posts: 2,996
    norm wrote:

    I'm glad you posted this. I can't look at those awful crash photos anymore.
  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,557
    Was from my county which was a suprise. Was this race for 5 million dollars?
  • PureandEasyPureandEasy Posts: 5,799
    Yes the winner did stand to win 5 million

    accident was horrible, so sad
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    Brisk. wrote:
    Was from my county which was a suprise. Was this race for 5 million dollars?

    no...wheldon was participating in a contest where he would start from the back of the field and if he won the race he would split it with someone who won a contest
  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,557
    norm wrote:
    Brisk. wrote:
    Was from my county which was a suprise. Was this race for 5 million dollars?

    no...wheldon was participating in a contest where he would start from the back of the field and if he won the race he would split it with someone who won a contest

    Oh right, but why did Wheldon attempt this and not someone else?
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    Sunday's IndyCar season finale in Las Vegas has drawn extra mainstream media attention, in large part because of extra cash.

    Series CEO Randy Bernard has offered $5 million for a win by any driver outside the series who wished to challenge. The idea was to perhaps draw a NASCAR star or IndyCar alumnus, but only St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon — hardly an "outsider," the 2011 Indianapolis 500 champion was eligible only because he did not race in the series full time this year — took the challenge.

    And a large challenge it will be. One of the stipulations of going for the big prize was that Wheldon must start in last place, and 34 cars are on the entry list. Plus, he'll have to split the $5 million with a fan if he wins it.

    Not that this dims the opportunity for Wheldon.

    "I'm definitely driven by winning," Wheldon said by phone this week from Los Angeles, where he was doing appearances, including on the TV show Extra, to promote the race. "But at the same time, I'm extremely excited by the opportunity. Outside of Indy, I've never seen such a big payout."

    Outside of Indy, Wheldon has done only one other race this year, Oct. 2 at Kentucky. The time off can make the physical and mental strain of racing even tougher.

    "I've been very lucky; I was out of the car (for several months) before Indy, but since then I've been in the new car," said Wheldon, who has been testing the series' revamped 2012 model extensively. "I have spent a lot of time in the gym, but there's absolutely no substitute for being in the race car."

    As he did at Kentucky, Wheldon will drive the No. 77 car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, the ride usually occupied by Alex Tagliani. That car sat on the pole for the Indy 500 and was basically part of a three-car effort, along with Townsend Bell and Wheldon, whose winning No. 98 car was associated with Schmidt's team via Bryan Herta. Tagliani will drive the No. 98 this weekend.

    "It's going to make it a lot harder," Wheldon said of starting at the back, "but obviously it's a quick car, and I think there are enough laps for us to get to the front."

    And, as demonstrated at Indy, a driver only has to be at the front at the end. Rookie JR Hilde­brand hit the wall in Turn 4 of the final lap, allowing Wheldon to get past and lead the final few hundred yards, his only lead of the race. Wheldon says his second Indianapolis 500 win was a different feeling than the first.

    "I think in 2005 it was almost expected of me," the native Englishman said. "Now I've had good times and bad times, so it really makes me appreciate winning the Indy 500 a lot more. … It's amazing what Indy does for you."

    Such as help provide the opportunity to go from one big payout to another.
    http://www.tampabay.com/sports/autoraci ... le/1196780
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