Dan Wheldon Killed

[EppyGA]

This years Indianapolis 500 winner was killed in a 15 car crash at the IRL season ending race this afternoon. Dan only got to run in three races this year. He was a past series champion as well as a two time Indy 500 winner.

R.I.P. Dan.

 

[Geico266]

I just saw that on Sports Center. Too sad. The kid had a huge future ahead of him. He leaves behind a wife and 2 young sons.

Danica Patrick was really choked up.

 

[silver-eagle]

ABC showed several videos from the accident. Just amazing there weren't more injuries. He was a heck of a driver and will be missed. Condolences to his family.

 

[nddons]

Let the second guessing begin.

Go Daddy sponsored a $5 million "contest" where Dan Weldon would start at the back of the pack; if he wins, he would receive $2.5mm and a contestant would win the other $2.5mm.

"We set out to prove that we have the best drivers in the world and putting Dan at the back of a 30-plus car field to weave his way through traffic at speeds in excess of 215 mph will certainly prove that."

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/46213-5-million-wager-placed-on-wheldon/

I saw the broadcast, and the racers were very broken up about Weldon. I'm surprised they had it in them to do the 5-lap trip to honor him. RIP.

 

[tonycondon]

Let the second guessing begin.

i'm pretty sure he had the option to say no. my understanding is there were concerns among the drivers about the high speeds during qualifying and practice and the large field. apparently not concerned enough. very unfortunate accident, never good when cars get airborne.

 

[nddons]

i'm pretty sure he had the option to say no. my understanding is there were concerns among the drivers about the high speeds during qualifying and practice and the large field. apparently not concerned enough. very unfortunate accident, never good when cars get airborne.

Of course they did. Frankly I didn't know anything about it until I flipped from football and saw this broadcast right after the crash. It does seem odd to have a race within a race, but my question on second guessing has more to do with Go Daddy and this whole idea than with the drivers. Though, I did hear some mumbling by a couple of drivers about running 4 wide at these speeds. I don't know if that was subtext for anything, but it was interesting.

 

[Matthew]

ugh - just saw the replays on Sports Center. It didn't help that the location of the crash was such that their momentum was carrying them into the wall.

Usually, those Indy cars spread out pretty quickly. I know it was still early in the race, lap 11, but I would have thought they'd have been thinned out by then. Were they just coming off a yellow?

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

It does seem odd to have a race within a race, but my question on second guessing has more to do with Go Daddy and this whole idea than with the drivers.

Dan was one of the unlucky drivers in IndyCar this year, IMO. Because of the economy, there wasn't a full time ride for him in the sport this year. He ran the 500 in what was basically a one off race for him. Then in an effort to draw more attention to the finale of the season, the CEO wanted to invite other race car drivers to run, for the 5 million prize. Turns out nobody wanted to do it, so they got together with a team to get Dan in a car to try to win the money.

Its an unfortunate accident, but it's probably best it happened where it did. Had that been in a corner with grandstands right next to the fence, I'm not sure you wouldn't be looking at the same thing that happened 1 month ago in Reno.