Dan Wheldon - Photo Credit: Jim Haines
British Indycar driver Dan Wheldon has died following a 15 car crash in the early laps of the IZOD Indycar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He suffered what series officials called “unsurvivable injuries”.
Several cars, including Wheldon San Schmidt run car, got airborne after running up on drivers already slowing down to avoid the accident and crashed into the debris fencing.
The race was almost immediately red flagged and Wheldon was airlifted to a local hospital. However, nearly two hours later the news of his death was confirmed.
Wheldon had started from the back of the grid, hoping to win and $2.5 million payout for himself and the same amount for a winning fan.
The 33-year-old won the Indycar championship in 2005, also winning the Indianapolis 500 that year. Despite having no full-time race seat he won the American Open Wheel showpiece again earlier this year, and was testing the 2012-specification chassis.
Dan Wheldon 1978-2011
