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View Full Version : Dan Wheldon 1978-2011



bobbiemcgee
10-16-2011, 05:02 PM
The Indy 500 winner. Godspeed.

Retire33
10-16-2011, 05:24 PM
Very, Very Sad. Wheldon was a multiple Indy 500 champ (including this year). Was going for a 5 million bounty if he won.

Kahns Krazy
10-16-2011, 05:26 PM
I'm watching the 5 lap 'salute' right now, and I'm surprised how moving it is. If I pass from this earth doing something I love, and people pay their respects to me by honoring what I love, I'll consider my time well spent.

Muskie
10-16-2011, 05:34 PM
Devastated....

waggy
10-16-2011, 05:48 PM
No way. Wow. Hadn't heard before seeing this thread. He was great on the Indy oval. And one of the better personalities in Indycar.

Could be wrong, but I don't think he'd been married even a year. Very sad.

bobbiemcgee
10-16-2011, 07:36 PM
http://photos.indystar.com/photos/2011/5/30/486300/immersive.jpg

CinciX12
10-16-2011, 07:39 PM
Newly married and has 2 young kids...just terrible news.

SlimKibbles
10-16-2011, 07:47 PM
http://autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20110530/FREE/110539997/AR/AR-110539997.jpg

PM Thor
10-16-2011, 09:01 PM
I was flipping between football and the race, saw the wreck live. My fiancee actually has gotten me into racing big time (especially NASCAR, got to meet and hang out with Ryan Newman in Indy) and she has met Wheldon on a couple of occasions, said he was one of the friendliest, most up beat people she ever met in racing. Wheldon was actually shooting for a $5 million bonus if he won today, but had it set up to split the winnings with a fan if he did it. Its a big loss to the sport, big loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, devastating.

Some of the video of the actual wreck is jaw dropping. I have never seen a wreck like that.

I HATE dayton.

SlimKibbles
10-16-2011, 09:06 PM
Some of the video of the actual wreck is jaw dropping. I have never seen a wreck like that.

You and me both. I've seen some bad wrecks at Indy that only involved no more than three cars but nothing like what I saw today. I saw a shot of Wheldon's car after it it come rest with him still in it and the roll-bar was sheared off along with what looks like the back of his helmet cracked off. Such a tragedy. Big loss for the sport. I still don't quite understand why he didn't have a regular ride in 2011.

Xavgrad08
10-16-2011, 09:07 PM
Those pictures above with him and his kids are absolutely heart breaking. May God watch over that family. RIP young man.

bobbiemcgee
10-16-2011, 09:07 PM
225 mph on that track with 34 cars is a little ridiculous. Driver's don't lift. Dangerous @ wide open Indy.

Fred Garvin 2.0
10-16-2011, 09:55 PM
I loved his feud with Danica.

waggy
10-16-2011, 11:43 PM
ESPN just gave it 10+ minutes as lead on Sportscenter. Surprised, but glad they did. He deserved it.

Some people are underappreciated while they're with us.

wkrq59
10-17-2011, 12:04 AM
I knew him from years of covering motor racing of all kinds. I recall introducing him to my grandson the same day Kevin did an interview with Sarah Fischer and today, I shed some tears amid my prayers for him and his family.
Thor et al, I too have seen many, many of those crashes and fortunately I talked to the survivors afterwards. No matter how many times you see that, it always sickens you to an extent and then you move on. I love the sport, it's exciting and exhilarating but it also scares the crap out of you. This was one of those times. god bless him and his family. :(