What a shame. 
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Oct. 16, 2011 6:11 p.m. conesare2seconds Reader
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Oct. 16, 2011 6:16 p.m. dlmater New Reader
Horrible news.
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Oct. 16, 2011 7:15 p.m. fasted58 SuperDork
Sad, sobering reality of motorsports. RIP Dan, what a talented driver.
Discussion of the incident on Wind Tunnel right now.
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Oct. 16, 2011 8:05 p.m. N Sperlo Dork
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Oct. 16, 2011 8:06 p.m. zpeed7 New Reader
Very sad. Godspeed Sam.
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Oct. 16, 2011 8:11 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork
Prayers for the family.
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Oct. 16, 2011 8:17 p.m. DukeOfUndersteer SuperDork
I am in shock. Racing community will feel this for a while.
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Oct. 16, 2011 8:23 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork
Godspeed, Dan Wheldon.
This was one of those instances where there was nothing that could be done. No safety measures could be done to prevent that sort of injury. Part of the risk of open wheel, open cockpit cars.
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Oct. 16, 2011 9:03 p.m. JtspellS Reader
Its just a damned shame when any one from any racing community passes away in such a way, thoughts are with the friends and family.
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Oct. 16, 2011 9:32 p.m. HappyAndy HalfDork
Its a terrible day for motorsports, my prayers are with his family.
How long has it been since anything like this has happened during a major "prime time" professional race? Was it Dale Sr? If so that's a long time (still not long enough).
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Oct. 16, 2011 9:41 p.m. Lesley SuperDork
So tragic. I feel very sad for his family.
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Oct. 16, 2011 9:49 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork
Scott Kalitta 2007
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Oct. 16, 2011 9:51 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork
This is only the third major series professional racing death during a televised race that I have seen in my whole lifetime. Senna, Sr., and Wheldon. I cried over all three.
It's such a damned shame, Wheldon was a hell of a nice guy, and he will be missed.
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Oct. 17, 2011 7:04 a.m. phaze1todd Reader
BoostedBrandon wrote:
Scott Kalitta 2007
Think of that wreck every time I see a Kalitta Air cargo plane take off from Bagram Air Field out here.
Prayers for the Wheldon family.
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Oct. 17, 2011 7:11 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork
There have been way too many fatalities in racing lately. Can't stand to think that his kids are the same age as mine.
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Oct. 17, 2011 7:25 a.m. BBsGarage HalfDork
Prayers to the Wheldon family and team.
That wreck reminded me of the wrecks that were all too common in the late 60's early 70's. Very scarey, very sad day.
After seeing that they put a tarp over the car, I knew it was not good.
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Oct. 17, 2011 7:50 a.m. alfadriver SuperDork
tuna55 wrote:
There have been way too many fatalities in racing lately.
Having started watching racing in the early 70's when I was a mere child, I could not disagree more.
Yes, you can say one is too many. But all things being considered, the efforts that the series have made to make things safe have, literally, been life saving.
Look back at LeMans, and BOTH of the Audi drivers who survived horrific crashes. Or even yesterday- I'm certain more would have had worse, if not, fatal, crashes one car version ago.
Let alone before I watched.
IMHO, this hurts more as we have not been harded to this kind of situation. It's clearly harder on the drivers than I think it was in the past. And, based on the savings of lives, that is a good thing.
coulda, woulda, shoulda. But it coulda been a lot worse than it was, too.
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Oct. 17, 2011 7:59 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork
alfadriver wrote:
tuna55 wrote:
There have been way too many fatalities in racing lately.
Having started watching racing in the early 70's when I was a mere child, I could not disagree more.
Yes, you can say one is too many. But all things being considered, the efforts that the series have made to make things safe have, literally, been life saving.
Look back at LeMans, and BOTH of the Audi drivers who survived horrific crashes. Or even yesterday- I'm certain more would have had worse, if not, fatal, crashes one car version ago.
Let alone before I watched.
IMHO, this hurts more as we have not been harded to this kind of situation. It's clearly harder on the drivers than I think it was in the past. And, based on the savings of lives, that is a good thing.
coulda, woulda, shoulda. But it coulda been a lot worse than it was, too.
Granted, but the list is far too long - especially in my favorite series, NHRA.
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Oct. 17, 2011 8:31 a.m. Tom Heath Web Manager
RIP Dan Wheldon.
A quote comes to mind when people die too young- "We're here for a good time, not a long time." I have no idea who coined the phrase, but it's true in my mind. Sorry to see it happen to anyone. -
Oct. 17, 2011 8:35 a.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork
All I can say is that at least he died doing what he loved.
My condolences to his family
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Oct. 17, 2011 9:36 a.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher
In this age of frame by frame slow-motion, and media saturation I was very impressed with the tribute ESPN played to Dan to lead off Sportscenter last night. They were classy and respectful, and focused on this triumphs and how much he was loved by those that knew him. ( The image of Dario weeping in his car will stay with me for a long, long time) Thankfully they refrained from showing the crash over and over again. It was a touching and fitting tribute to a champion.
R.I.P.
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Oct. 17, 2011 9:42 a.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
We were out all day, so I didn't hear the news until returning last night. Yes, totally sucks.
Honda did the media introduction for the S2000 CR during the Mid-Ohio Indy/World Challenge weekend, and Dan Wheldon was on hand. He was just a super-nice guy. I forget if I shot this before or after he took me for a lap, but either way it was really cool to watch him from the passenger seat.
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Oct. 17, 2011 11:19 a.m. Javelin SuperDork
Rest in Peace Dan. You will be sorely missed.
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Oct. 17, 2011 11:25 a.m. madmallard HalfDork
In reply to tuna55:
NHRA alone is responsible for so many new safety feature just from the 90s forward that have save people from crippling injury. Which is to say, stuff learned from them was passed onto other leagues of racing.
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Oct. 17, 2011 11:50 a.m. Rusted_Busted_Spit SuperDork
RIP Dan. I got to meet him a coule of times, very sad.
