Indy500 winner Dan Wheldon Dies

What was supposed to cap off an exciting Indy500 season, turned into a tragedy. Earlier today Indycar CEO Randy Bernard announced that Dan Wheldon was pronounced dead at University Hospital from injuries suffered in a 15-car crash on Lap 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The 200-lap race to decide the series championship and rookie of the year was not resumed. Wheldon was 33. He is survived by his wife, Susie, two young sons, his parents, Clive and Susie, and three siblings.

Wheldon’s car flew over another and caught part of the catch fence just past the apex of Turn 2. The incident left another driver’s car upside down and smoldering cars strewn along the backstretch.

“I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff,” said Dario Franchitti, who avoided the mishap. “I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it’s about. One small mistake from somebody ….”

It cost the life of one of Franchitti’s longtime friends and former teammate at then-Andretti Green Racing.

“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 6 years old when I first met him. He was this little kid and the next thing you know he was my teammate.

“We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships and today it doesn’t matter.”

Also involved were the cars driven by Will Power, Paul Tracy, Buddy Rice, Alex Lloyd, E.J. Viso, Charlie Kimball, Tomas Scheckter, Jay Howard, Townsend Bell, Wade Cunningham, Pippa Mann, JR Hildebrand, James Jakes and Vitor Meira.

Mann, Hildebrand and Power were transported via ground to the hospital for evaluation.

RIP Mr. Wheldon.