Dan Wheldon killed at IndyRace in Vegas

[mattperiolat]

The two time Indy 500 winner has been killed in a multiple car accident at an IndyCar race in Las Vegas. Details in the link.

www.cnn.com/2011/10/16/us/indycar-crash/index.html

[Deleted]

Said in the motorsports thread, but I'm in tears over this. He was a great driver. He's been my sig image since he won the 500 this year, always a joy to see him on the track.

[weeniebeenie]

really sad day in racing today. i'm glad i got to see him win the 500 this year. R.I.P.

[mattperiolat]

I think what bothers me most about this is, even though I am not a motor sports fan, the way the sport is mocked as something that people with a death wish do and then when something like this happens, is used as a reason to ban the sport...

It is just a bad day, folks. Real bad day.

And yes, while losing Wheldon is a tragedy, let us not forget the other drivers involved in the pileup. They will be in need of our prayers and best wishes tonight as well.

[The Booty Disciple]

Hence why I'm still keeping my computer up. Pippa Mann appeared to me to be severely concussed when they made her walk to the ambulance(!). Will Power went to the hospital after he gave an interview. Hildebrand was also there.

Thank god those dog ugly, crapwagon, unsafe chassis are gone.

Let's just say I'm in a REALLY bad mood about racing right now.

[Sponsored by Groose Wipes]

It's always a damn shame seeing someone's life ending in sports. At least when he died, he went out doing what he loves.

Dan Wheldon Is racing in gods speed now. RIP.

[Krimzon]

I'll never understand why people choose to do this, but that doesn't matter at this point. It really does suck to lose anybody like that. Had to be horrible for people to witness.

R.I.P. Dan.

[KStrick]

Oct 16, 2011 18:49:23 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

I'll never understand why people choose to do this, but that doesn't matter at this point. It really does suck to lose anybody like that. Had to be horrible for people to witness.

R.I.P. Dan.

Why do you do anything YOU do for fun?

It's sad he died. It truly is. However, like previously posted, he died doing what he loved. How many people can say they've done that (well... hypothetically speaking).

Also, I guarantee you all racers know full well the consequences of their activities. They know full well that every time they do this, something like this can happen.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fans.

[Burst]

That was a ghastly crash. It brought back shades of Geoff Bodine's truck crash at Daytona in 2000, only up to eleven.

What I hate the most about this, though, is that amongst the tragedy there's going to be proponents of specific motorsports, whether they be NASCAR, V8, F1, or what have you, descending on IndyCar and using it as an excuse to soapbox about how IndyCar is so horrible and _____ is so much better and so on and so forth.

It happens with seemingly every motorsport tragedy that isn't in F1.

[mattperiolat]

Oct 16, 2011 19:10:32 GMT -5 Burst said:

It happens with seemingly every motorsport tragedy that isn't in F1.

Pardon the phrase, but be careful about famous last words. You never know when they might be.

In other words, hasn't happened in F1 racing YET.

[Captain & Diet]

Hey Starman I'm right there with you. He was my favorite driver and I've spent the past few hours with a lump in my throat. He was a class act, a phenomenal champion and probably England's greatest racer. RIP Wheldon and prayers and love to his wife and children.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Just horrible. R.I.P, and I'm certainly not going to fault him for dying doing the thing he obviously enjoyed.

[The Booty Disciple]

I said this in the other thread, and I'll say it here too...

He was "doing what he loved," sure. But that cheapens him as a person. A car racer was not ALL of who Dan Wheldon was. He had a wife...kids...life outside of IndyCars. He loved it, sure, but he had goals and aspirations beyond the cockpit of a Dallara. Don't cheapen him to just a "race driver."

As far as justifying the car racing thing? Well, there was a time when car racing was development territory...and the Indy 500 was the place it was developed the best. 8 foot of wire, run what ya brung...and you'd be impressed with how many innovations from car racing, whether it be open wheel (either European or American), stock, or sports cars are currently in passenger cars. It was meant to be the proving ground.

I won't waste time saying Dan Wheldon died doing "what he loved." Yeah...he did...but he loved other things too. I won't tell him to "rest in peace" because that's not for me to decide, but whatever power in the Universe is out there to decide.

I'll simply say that I'm going to miss Dan Wheldon.

[Ishmeal Loves Kaseyhausen]

Oct 16, 2011 20:54:06 GMT -5 The Booty Disciple said:

I said this in the other thread, and I'll say it here too...

He was "doing what he loved," sure. But that cheapens him as a person. A car racer was not ALL of who Dan Wheldon was. He had a wife...kids...life outside of IndyCars. He loved it, sure, but he had goals and aspirations beyond the cockpit of a Dallara. Don't cheapen him to just a "race driver."

As far as justifying the car racing thing? Well, there was a time when car racing was development territory...and the Indy 500 was the place it was developed the best. 8 foot of wire, run what ya brung...and you'd be impressed with how many innovations from car racing, whether it be open wheel (either European or American), stock, or sports cars are currently in passenger cars. It was meant to be the proving ground.

I won't waste time saying Dan Wheldon died doing "what he loved." Yeah...he did...but he loved other things too. I won't tell him to "rest in peace" because that's not for me to decide, but whatever power in the Universe is out there to decide.

I'll simply say that I'm going to miss Dan Wheldon.

Great post, man. I agree with every word.

[Beets by Schrute]

I have never watched the man race, but any death is tragic regardless of activity. Also just saw he just had a son last March. . My prayers are with his family.

[Red Lion]

As an aside, the person that started the chain reaction that led to Dan's death is going to be haunted by this for the rest of his life.

[mattperiolat]

Oct 16, 2011 21:21:33 GMT -5 Red Lion said:

As an aside, the person that started the chain reaction that led to Dan's death is going to be haunted by this for the rest of his life.

Yeah, the orange car. Seriously, has anyone heard how serious the injuries are to the other drivers?

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2011 21:24:01 GMT -5 mattperiolat said:

Oct 16, 2011 21:21:33 GMT -5 Red Lion said:

As an aside, the person that started the chain reaction that led to Dan's death is going to be haunted by this for the rest of his life.

Yeah, the orange car. Seriously, has anyone heard how serious the injuries are to the other drivers?

Orange car?


I don't think the injuries are too bad for the other drivers. I think Will Power was released, while Pippa Mann and JR Hildebrand are okay but being held overnight for evaluation.

[FHgrad99]

Oct 16, 2011 21:44:00 GMT -5 @thickmcrunfast said:

Oct 16, 2011 21:24:01 GMT -5 mattperiolat said:

Yeah, the orange car. Seriously, has anyone heard how serious the injuries are to the other drivers?

Orange car?


I don't think the injuries are too bad for the other drivers. I think Will Power was released, while Pippa Mann and JR Hildebrand are okay but being held overnight for evaluation.

According to Will Power's team's Twitter, he has been released from the hospital. He was complaining of some back pain and was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Pippa Mann's father told ESPN that Mann didn't sustain any broken bones but she suffered a hand injury and some other bruises.

JR Hildebrand is being held overnight for observation for a possible concussion.

I was watching this race live as this crash happened. It had been a long time since I was that scared after seeing a crash live. I was worried about what might happen because the cars were running very close together early on in that race. I feared for what might have happened if something happened further up in the field and unfortunately my worst fears were realized.

Dan Wheldon was a very good driver who was very popular amongst his fans and his fellow drivers. He had a real love and passion for racing. One of the announcers said that he would always light up when somebody would ask him about racing. He was very enthusiastic about the sport and I think that caused a lot of fans to cheer for him. I feel horrible for his family, friends, fans and fellow competitors. This is a really sad day for motorsports.

[BR329]

Oct 16, 2011 21:44:00 GMT -5 @thickmcrunfast said:

Oct 16, 2011 21:24:01 GMT -5 mattperiolat said:

Yeah, the orange car. Seriously, has anyone heard how serious the injuries are to the other drivers?

Orange car?


.

I believe he means Wade Cunningham who was driving the red #17 car which originally made contact in the back of another car and lost it starting the wreck.