RIP Dan Wheldon : Othor Games

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:28 pm

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/wheldon-hurt-huge-crash-vegas-14749012

Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car became ensnarled in a fiery 15-car pileup on Lap 13, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2.

It seems it's been awhile since someone has died from a car crash, with all the new technology. This one was pretty horrific though, and these guys are going over 200mph. Here is the Youtube video of the crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn08nh7zoto

Crash is at beginning, then replays start at the 2:10 mark.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:14 pm

Anytime a racer dies racing, you know they've died doing what they love doing.

R.I.P. Dan Wheldon.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:44 pm

Man, you hate to see something like that

It has been a while, but still a travesty. RIP.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:10 pm

I just saw this on the news, my condolences to his loved ones. RIP.
His car just went airborne after he hit that guy that was hit,

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:18 pm

svcks to hear this. Don't really watch racing, never heard of the guy but for some reason it's making me a bit more sad than usual. I feel really bad for his family (had a wife and 2 kids, one of them 7 months old). Rest in peace Dan.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:39 pm

Just for some perspective, his car is the black car down on the low side of the track in those replays, it's the first one to go airborne followed by the number 12 car (the white car swerves around the car #12 hits) in the video. You can see it go up into the fence upside down, then explode into flames.

He wasn't supposed to be in this race, but the promoter (?) of the race issued a 5 million dollar challenge to anyone who isn't a regular driver on a team if they won. He was the only guy to accept the challenge, which is why they were following him during the race. He was doing really well before the crash.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:35 pm

It's a shame, shows how precious life really is.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:47 am

He genuinely seemed to be a great guy. He won the Championship in 2005 and also won the Indy 500 in 2005, but wound up without a full time ride. He ran basically what was going to be a one-off deal and ended up winning another Indy 500 this year which was amazing in it's own right. He also worked in the booth this year on Versus and picked up a ride for the last two races this year (I think).

He was one of my favorites and I certainly missed him this year, but this is just horrible. Godspeed Dan, I raise a glass on milk in your honor. You will be missed.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:31 pm

I just saw this on the news, my condolences to his loved ones. RIP.
His car just went airborne after he hit that guy that was hit,

Me too. That was happen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVpux5JxqEk a few years ago but he survived. RIP Dan Wheldon. :sad:

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:40 am

Wow, just saw this now. What a horrific crash, R.I.P.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:08 pm

Anytime a racer dies racing, you know they've died doing what they love doing.

R.I.P. Dan Wheldon.

I love this...indeed he did.

R.I.P. Dan Wheldon :sad:

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:59 am

Just for some perspective, his car is the black car down on the low side of the track in those replays, it's the first one to go airborne followed by the number 12 car (the white car) in the video. You can see it go up into the fence upside down.

They HAVE to figure out a way to keep these things on the ground. Right now they're just 1600 lb missiles with 650 horsepower when they launch like that. (3 cars were launched like his was) Hopefully, the 2012 car and the new rear fender's and side skirt will help. It's even more tragic that Dan was the primary test driver for this new chassis. They should name it the Weldon chassis in his honor. The SAFER barrier helps a LOT when they stay on the ground (look at Jimmie Johnson's hit last night at Charlette). But when these cars get up in the catch fence there's most likely going to be serious injury.

» Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:29 pm

They HAVE to figure out a way to keep these things on the ground. Right now they're just 1600 lb missiles with 650 horsepower when they launch like that. (3 cars were launched like his was) Hopefully, the 2012 car and the new rear fender's and side skirt will help. It's even more tragic that Dan was the primary test driver for this new chassis. They should name it the Weldon chassis in his honor. The SAFER barrier helps a LOT when they stay on the ground (look at Jimmie Johnson's hit last night at Charlette). But when these cars get up in the catch fence there's most likely going to be serious injury.

Unfortunately when you run over another car at 200 mph youre going to go airborne, and these cars are so light they tend to go up high and come down hard.

The biggest problem is the reaction time, it's impossible not to hit the cars in front of you going that fast, if you manage not to it's really nothing but luck. So once the wreck starts everyone close behind them will have crashed or drove through it before they do anything to change the outcome.