Dan Wheldon Indy Car

I don't know Dans condition but my thoughts and prayers are with him today....hoping for the best

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Z on October 17, 2011 at 4:46pm

And don't forget Tim Richmond and would have been great Rob Moroso, to others who left racing to soon through off track tragedy.
24 hours after the accident, I still feel sick. My prayers are now for Dan’s family.

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Permalink Reply by RG7FAN on October 17, 2011 at 12:25pm

Several months ago when the new Indycar was reaveled I was very critical of the "bumpers" over the rear wheels, and of the massive "air box / roll hoop" on the new car. Not anymore, hopefully the new car will be safer going forward.

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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on October 17, 2011 at 1:03pm

If Vitor Meira (#14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt car) doesn't cut hard left then Paul Tracy and Dan clear most of the wreck. Not sure why he cut so hard, but I imagine that it was a self preservation reaction.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hoban on October 17, 2011 at 1:16pm

With so little time to react in any situation, it is hard to know what goes through a racers mind at any given moment. You can't second guess and you can't blame anyone. Just move forward and learn from mistakes. Hopefully Indy Car will now realize that their place is on road courses and flat ovals. No one will miss Dan more than his friends and family. God Speed Dan, we'll remember you.

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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on October 17, 2011 at 1:34pm

You are right Rob, Not saying Vitor caused it, I don't blame anyone who is reacting to an accident at 220MPH. Just wish Dan missed it. Just a huge bummer.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Cartwright on October 17, 2011 at 1:46pm

remember it's not just the driver's responsibility, the spotters have a part in this too. Over the radio you hear from Dan's car " go low, go low" right as the crash happened.

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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on October 17, 2011 at 1:49pm

that "go low go low" haunts me. So much emotion in that spotters voice.

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Permalink Reply by Terie (aka vassinvegas) on October 17, 2011 at 2:28pm

If you had been there, and seen how fast they were going around that track, you'd know NO ONE could have had time to react other than just from instinct. I watched the truck race the day before and had just commented on how quickly they were coming around compared to the trucks sceonds before the wreck. No one's fault, just a HORRIBLE racing incident. I hope I never see anthing like that again.

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Permalink Reply by Terie (aka vassinvegas) on October 17, 2011 at 2:25pm

I was there, sitting on the upper deck of the Neon Garage facing the backstretch. I was turned left, talking to someone when I heard people gasp and sounds of wrecking. I turned my head to see burning cars sliding towards turn 3 and a huge mess, Will Powers car stopped right in front of us on fire. We knew it was bad immediately. I got mobbed as people from all over the garage area come to where we were to gawk. Some were laughing, joking. It made me sick! The cars were towed just below us, one was crispy, one was tarped. They looked so odd dangling from the tow hook. Some were smashed but not that bad. We were getting absolutely no info from the track announcers, a group of people sat with me and I read what I was getting from tweets and texts from my friends. We crossed back to the grandstands and stood with everyone as they did the 5 tribute laps. Grown men were openly weeping. Walking to the car was strange, no one spoke, just walked. Most races the party continues to the parking lot. Then I find out the plane crash I'd heard about earlier was Rick Huseman and his brother who had taken off from NLV airport. A very sad day in Las Vegas.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Cartwright on October 17, 2011 at 2:59pm

Not trying to start an arguement here but the whole ordeal was anything but a testament to safety. Other drivers were not killed due to sheer luck not safety.

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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on October 17, 2011 at 3:08pm

Luck does play a part, but improvements to car and track safely did increase their odds of survival requiring less luck. Pippa Mann and Will Power somewhat prove that. If this race was run with the old 1995 CART chassis with smaller foot tubs it would have been a lot worse. Will Power would not have walked away after impacting the catch fence feet first.