The 33-year-old Wheldon, one of the most well-liked drivers in the paddock, died Sunday after his car became ensnarled in a fiery 15-car pileup, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
It was IndyCar’s first fatal accident since Paul Dana died during a morning warmup at Homestead in 2006. Formula One’s last fatality was Ayrton Senna in 1994.
Wheldon’s death was a stunning loss at a time when improved cars, better safety equipment and energy-absorbing walls had created a sense that, while racing was still dangerous, it was not nearly as deadly.
On Saturday night, five-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson was in a vicious head-on collision at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where his rear wheels lifted off the ground. He walked away from the accident, praised his safety equipment and complained only of soreness one day after the accident.
At Las Vegas, Wheldon started at the back of the 34-car field, the largest of the season. The Indianapolis 500 was a 33-car field, there were 29 entries two weeks ago at Kentucky, and only 26 at Japan a month ago.
A crowded field, with cars racing two- and three-wide on a fast oval, leaves no room for error. Many drivers jockeyed early for position. Wheldon was unable to avoid the crashing vehicles that littered the track in front of him.
After the accident, veterans openly wondered why so many drivers were so impatient so early in the race.
“One mistake can take 15 people out, and that’s what happened there,” IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan said. “I’ve never seen such a mess in my entire career.”
Ashley Judd was at the Las Vegas racetrack Sunday when the crash happened. She was cheering on her husband, Dario Franchitti.
After the crash that killed Wheldon, who was sponsored by Justin Timberlake's clothing line William Rast, Franchetti was choked up. He said, "I lost, we lost, a good friend."
Judd tweeted poetry,
"As we continue to absorb Dan's accident - we forget, remember, re- experience shock, denial, anger, pain - I'm reminded of a favorite poem: DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so, For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow, Due not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest & sleepe, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure then from thee, much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee doe goe, Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie. One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die. J Donne."
All about:Dan Wheldon Lewis Hamilton Mark Webber Sebastian Vettel IndyCar Series Firestone Indy Lights
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