R.I.P Dan Wheldon, 1978-2011

[Pierce89]

I won't really be taking part in any talk here. I was a huge Wheldon fan. His last 500 win as a one-off race was magic. Dan you were on of the few truly exciting drivers in Indycar and you will be missed. RIP

[strad]

R.I.P. Dan

[cossie]

a roll hoop should not fail, these were 12 yr old tubs with more bondo than carbon fiber, and no way should they have had that many cars in a race, dario said thye should not have even been at vegas

[xpensive]

These are big boys. They now they are playing with fire and are going to get bit every once in a while. If they don't like the risks they can pick another sport. How many drivers do you think would not race after this accident AT this track?
...
Brian

Boy, that was a most senitive as well as empathic remark you got there Brian, thanks for sharing your emotions.

[johnny99]

Correct, the hoop shpild never, but I didn't realise the tubs were so old. Do they not build new tubs every season

John

a roll hoop should not fail, these were 12 yr old tubs with more bondo than carbon fiber, and no way should they have had that many cars in a race, dario said thye should not have even been at vegas

[Dragonfly]

R.I.P Dan

[timbo]

The alarming fact is that fatalities in Indy/Champcar are not a rare occurance. IMO during late-80's/early-90's this series was actually ahead of F1 on safety innovations, including head protection, underfloor profile etc and F1 successfully borrowed a lot from the America. Surely it is hard to compare F1 to oval racing, but I have the impression that safetywise the progress in Indy/Champcar had halted or possibly moved backwards. Whether it is due to financial problems or poor organization I don;t know, but that is what I feel.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

May god rest his soul in peace. A tragic loss for the world of Motorsport and not to mention the young family he leaves behind. My deepest sympathies and condolences to them.

Here is not a place to debate safety lads, lets show some respect at least and leave this thread to his memory.

Dan Wheldon, passed into the next world doing what he loves.

[auto saibot]

horrific day for motorsports....rest in peace Dan Wheldon.
my deepest sympathies to the Wheldon family.

[munudeges]

a roll hoop should not fail, these were 12 yr old tubs with more bondo than carbon fiber, and no way should they have had that many cars in a race, dario said thye should not have even been at vegas

Right on all counts sadly. Dario was pretty non-plussed about that silly $5 million challenge thing.

As for the twelve year old tubs, I personally think that's one of the dangers of a racing series with standardised cars that exist to save costs and make up the numbers. Technology just doesn't move forward as it should and maintenance becomes a bit of an afterthought. Formula 1 should take careful notice of what has happened to Indycar.

[Pierce89]

You will be missed Dan.
Save some milk for me.

[ESPImperium]

Devistated to hear the news via Twitter this morning. I just hope God is watching over his wife and family at this hour of need. It would be a nice trib ute for the $5m winnings that would have bee won from last nights race to be put into a trust fund for Dans kids that can be accessed when they turn 21.

As for the safety aspect, ill wait till i see an official report, Coswoth Electronics will be all over the black box and with Indy official the correct outcome should in time be realised.

He will be missed, and it was a fairytaile win he had this year at Indy, winning in the last 500m after the last corner accedent of JR hildibrand.

I also hope for a swift recovery of all other drivers hurt in the accedent like Pippa Mann.

[donskar]

RIP
For more on this fine driver, see the October issue of Motorsports magazine.

[ElleMarie]

i cant stop thinking about his family, i have a lump in my throat, im speechless.

[ESPImperium]

Its ironic that he was testing the new IR12 chassis for 2012 that was more supperior in every way to the now defunct IT07 chassis, and he was saying that Safety has significantly improved.