RIP Dan Wheldon



I grew up surrounded by Indy car racing.  My dad loved the races and followed Indy style racing fervantly.  Some of my favorite memories are from going to the Indianapolis 500 with the my dad and brothers.  I don't follow as much as I used to.  It's a long story but the cars changed and sponsorhsip changed and things just weren't the same afterwards.  Despite what people say, I don't think most people go to the races to see a crash.  We didn't.  We loved the speed, and inginuity, and teamwork that was involved in racing.  So, I know that this blog will not resonate with a lot of people.  But that's ok.  I write about things that interest me from my point of view so that my family will know me a little better.  I have copied bits and pieces of an ESPN article below about the Dan Wheldon crash yesterday.  RIP Dan Wheldon

LAS VEGAS -- Dan Wheldon, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the most popular drivers in open-wheel racing, died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a horrific multi-car crash on Lap 11 of the IndyCar Series season finale.

Officials decided to call the race, but the drivers, many sobbing openly, did a five-lap tribute to Wheldon. IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard made the official announcement of Wheldon's death without further comment.

Wheldon, 33 and the 2005 series champion from Emberton, England, was competing in only his third IndyCar race of the season, trying to win the race and earn a $5 million bonus that was part of a league promotion for driver who didn't compete full-time in the series this year.

"One minute you're joking around at driver intros. The next, Dan's gone," said Dario Franchitti, whose wife, actress Ashley Judd, had to bring him a box of tissues. "I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer."

When drivers returned to the track for the tribute laps, Wheldon's No. 77 was the only one on the towering scoreboard. Franchitti sobbed uncontrollably as he got back into his car for the memorial ride. The sound of "Danny Boy" echoed around the track, followed by "Amazing Grace." Hundreds of crew workers from each team stood at attention in honor of Wheldon.

"What can you say? We're going to miss him," Ganassi said. "Everybody in IndyCar died a little today."