Teamspeed.com - Dan Wheldon - A Short Look Back

http://downforce-media.smugmug.com/A...-Wheldon-L.jpg

Dan Wheldon: 1978 - 2011

Text by Dana Larkin

Husband, father, and Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died today from injuries sustained in a crash at the IndyCar series finale at Las Vegas. He was 33-years old.

From Emberton England, Wheldon came from a racing family and excelled at every level of motorsport. He began his karting career at age 12 with an investment from his father - who was also an amateur driver. He was cheered loudly from the pit-lane by his mother who often served as a timekeeper at their local track.

After winning karting's Formula A World Cup in 1995 Wheldon moved to Formula Ford and took race victories in his rookie season. Nevertheless, Wheldon would lose his seat to a likewise talented but better funded young driver named Jenson Button. As a result, Wheldon left the UK and sought his fortunes in America. In 1999 Wheldon won the US Formula Ford 2000 title and rose to prominence in the CART series winning several major races including the Toyota Atlantic and Indy Lights championships.

Nevertheless, opportunities for Wheldon in the CART series soon dried up. But that wouldn't keep the Brit down. After joining the IndyCar series with Panther Racing for a few late-season contests in 2002, Wheldon's big shot came in 2003 with Andretti Green Racing. When top driver Dario Franchitti was sidelined by injuries sustained in a motor cycle accident, Wheldon was called up to take his place. After Franchitti returned, Wheldon kept his seat when team boss Michael Andretti retired from racing. Fortune would then shine on Wheldon for the next several seasons.

Despite being a Brit with primarily road-track experience, Wheldon excelled in the IndyCar world. He scored his first win in the series in Japan at Montegi in 2004. He would go on to win three races that year while finishing second in the season championship to teammate Tony Kanaan.

In 2005 - on his way to the series championship - Wheldon would set an IndyCar season record with six race victories. One of those would be his first Indy 500. No Brit had won the iconic race since Graham Hill in 1966.

Wheldon switched to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006 and promptly won his first race with team - the 24-hours of Daytona. He would finish the season tied on points with former Panther Racing teammate Sam Hornish, Jr. But Wheldon had scored only two season victories compared to Hornish's four and thus lost out on the title. During the 2006 battle with Hornish, Wheldon was offered a spot as the third driver for the BMW Sauber Formula 1 team. Yet - when he learned that he would be merely a backup - he declined.

In 2008, Wheldon would score his 15th IndyCar victory at the Iowa Corn Indy 250. He donated his winnings from the race to the victims of a recent tornado that ravaged the area with flooding.

After being released from Chip Ganassi Racing, Wheldon rejoined Panther Racing and scored a top 10 points finish in 2009 and 2010. He would take second on the Indy 500 in both seasons.

In 2011, Wheldon won an emotional Indy 500 for Bryan Herta Autosport. That race would be decided by an ironic twist of fate as Panther Racing's JR Hildebrand crashed into the wall on the final corner allowing Wheldon to pass. He became the only Indy 500 winner to lead only a single lap. It was his first race win in three years.

At the series finale in Las Vegas, Wheldon was chosen to race for $5 million that was to be split with a fan in case of victory. After a fine showing at a preparation event at Kentucky Speedway, Wheldon appeared to have a legitimate chance of winning. Then tragedy struck. Charging from the back of the pack, Wheldon was killed in disastrous 15 car crash.

Perhaps more than any other European driver, Wheldon loved racing in America. He passionately lived the racing lifestyle and fully embraced it. Through many ups and downs he always carried on. Like most racing champions, he truly seemed unstoppable. That is what makes today's tragedy so hard to accept. He will be sorely missed.

Wheldon leaves behind his wife Susie and their two sons - Sebastian born in 2009 and Oliver born in March.