RIP Dan Wheldon

scottIN · 10-24-2011, 07:04 AM

It wasn't the speed, the car, the drivers, the track that killed Dan- it was just bad luck. Had anything happened just a little bit differently - a second later even - or if he had rolled 1/4 less of a roll, he would have walked away like all the others. The only thing that might have saved him is if the catch fence was suspended away from the poles - which I think you'll see happen at some tracks. If you look at the few deaths that have occurred in IndyCar in the last decade, all but one has involved a head injury (Renna) - but all have been different - Whelden hit the post, Moore hit the wall, Dana hit another car (but nothing with his head), Krosnoff hit a light pole outside the fence. A closed canopy would not have withstood the impacts by Wheldon or Moore - maybe Knosnoff since it was a glancing blow - and wouldn't have mattered in Dana's crash.

There is no way to protect against every eventuality. We're so used to seeing a car hit the wall at 225 and the driver jump out unhurt that when something like this happens, everyone goes looking for answers. Crashing is a part of racing - you're on the limit- and sometimes you go over. It's part of the thrill for drivers - as well as fans. Sometimes the outcome just sucks. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes you're unlucky.

Yesterday morning, we went to the Dan Wheldon Memorial Cup kart race. It was a tough day not to have him there. The race was won by current Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden (who was doing the radio broadcast during the wreck) and Mark Dismore, Sr. - which is who Dan stayed with when he first came to the US. Kind of fitting that those two won.

Go-kart drivers race in memory of Wheldon - 13 WTHR

After that we went to the memorial in Indy. It was very nice.

Highway · 10-24-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottIN

After that we went to the memorial in Indy. It was very nice.

I was out there as well and thought it was a nice tribute to a great driver. I was hoping that all of Conseco would be filled, but it was still a great turnout and shows the impact he had on so many lives. It's going to be hard to be out at the races next year.

Here's a pic I snagged of him a few years ago...

Going to miss him.

scottIN · 10-25-2011, 09:06 AM

Nice pic...

Here's one of my favorites. The radiator hose had come off in qualifying and Dan wasn't watching his temp. Got it to about 350* before he stuck it (normal is 140*). Dismore Jr. is explaining to him how bad he f'd the engine. The gaskets were just goo-it was hilarious.
For the race the next day I engraved a little sign we stuck on his kart that said 'Dan-check your temp!'

10-24-2011, 07:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
scottIN Track Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Castle, Indiana Posts: 764 Drives: '12 370Z Rep Power: 55	It wasn't the speed, the car, the drivers, the track that killed Dan- it was just bad luck. Had anything happened just a little bit differently - a second later even - or if he had rolled 1/4 less of a roll, he would have walked away like all the others. The only thing that might have saved him is if the catch fence was suspended away from the poles - which I think you'll see happen at some tracks. If you look at the few deaths that have occurred in IndyCar in the last decade, all but one has involved a head injury (Renna) - but all have been different - Whelden hit the post, Moore hit the wall, Dana hit another car (but nothing with his head), Krosnoff hit a light pole outside the fence. A closed canopy would not have withstood the impacts by Wheldon or Moore - maybe Knosnoff since it was a glancing blow - and wouldn't have mattered in Dana's crash. There is no way to protect against every eventuality. We're so used to seeing a car hit the wall at 225 and the driver jump out unhurt that when something like this happens, everyone goes looking for answers. Crashing is a part of racing - you're on the limit- and sometimes you go over. It's part of the thrill for drivers - as well as fans. Sometimes the outcome just sucks. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes you're unlucky. Yesterday morning, we went to the Dan Wheldon Memorial Cup kart race. It was a tough day not to have him there. The race was won by current Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden (who was doing the radio broadcast during the wreck) and Mark Dismore, Sr. - which is who Dan stayed with when he first came to the US. Kind of fitting that those two won. Go-kart drivers race in memory of Wheldon - 13 WTHR After that we went to the memorial in Indy. It was very nice.

10-25-2011, 09:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
scottIN Track Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Castle, Indiana Posts: 764 Drives: '12 370Z Rep Power: 55	Nice pic... Here's one of my favorites. The radiator hose had come off in qualifying and Dan wasn't watching his temp. Got it to about 350* before he stuck it (normal is 140*). Dismore Jr. is explaining to him how bad he f'd the engine. The gaskets were just goo-it was hilarious. For the race the next day I engraved a little sign we stuck on his kart that said 'Dan-check your temp!'