Dan Wheldon killed in IndyCar crash

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GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Oct 16, 2011 5:43 PM
15 car pileup at today's Indycar's World Championships. Wheldon airlifted to the hospital. Had his car tarped off. Didn't look good at all. Will Powers also sent to the hospital. They've red flagged the race and are having a drivers meeting right now. Supposed to be a good day for Wheldon after announcing today that he's taking over Danica's car next season when she leaves Indy for NASCAR.

Here's a video from Power's in car camera.

[video=youtube;O7DetQvUjoU][/video]
Oct 16, 2011 5:43pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

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12,319 posts
Oct 16, 2011 5:47 PM
Ashley Judd (Dario's wife) tweeted that Dario had heard that Wheldon was unconscious but his vitals were fine about an hour ago.
Oct 16, 2011 5:47pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

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12,319 posts
Oct 16, 2011 5:58 PM
Dan Wheldon has died. Race has been cancelled.

Drivers will run a 5 lap salute shortly.
Oct 16, 2011 5:58pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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Oct 16, 2011 5:58 PM
He died. :(
Oct 16, 2011 5:58pm
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hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:00 PM
RIP hate to see this
Oct 16, 2011 6:00pm
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dazedconfused

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2,662 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:00 PM
rip dan wheldon. just awful
Oct 16, 2011 6:00pm
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coyotes22

Go Tigers

11,298 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:04 PM
Another sad day in MotorSports.

RIP Wheldon
Oct 16, 2011 6:04pm
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coyotes22

Go Tigers

11,298 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:05 PM
[video=youtube;sOsZtDyr6Ls][/video]
Oct 16, 2011 6:05pm
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derek bomar

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3,722 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:05 PM
this is why race car driving is retarded
Oct 16, 2011 6:05pm
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coyotes22

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11,298 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:07 PM
derek bomar;935743 wrote:this is why race car driving is retarded
Seriously? Its something that can happen in any sport. Have some respect.

Racing is probably more safe than any other sport right now.
Oct 16, 2011 6:07pm
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gerb131

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Oct 16, 2011 6:10 PM
Dang. RIP
Oct 16, 2011 6:10pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

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12,319 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:13 PM
coyotes22;935746 wrote:Racing is probably more safe than any other sport right now.
Unfortunately open wheel cars are never really "safe". The body is so light and small, and the driver's head is always somewhat exposed. That's why they have one die about once every few years as opposed to very seldom in stock cars.

Such is the risk. Every sport has them though, so you just do what you love and hope for the best.
Oct 16, 2011 6:13pm
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killer_ewok

iRep

11,379 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:18 PM
Damn. RIP. He drove the Jim Beam car, right?
Oct 16, 2011 6:18pm
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derek bomar

Senior Member

3,722 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:19 PM
coyotes22;935746 wrote:Seriously? Its something that can happen in any sport. Have some respect.

Racing is probably more safe than any other sport right now.
lol, a 15 car pile-up can happen in any sport? GTFOOH
Oct 16, 2011 6:19pm
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oberhaus

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868 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:21 PM
killer_ewok;935761 wrote:Damn. RIP. He drove the Jim Beam car, right?

#77. Wasnt he in a Target car? He was part of that team at least.
Oct 16, 2011 6:21pm
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robj55

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9,511 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:25 PM
rip. so sad
Oct 16, 2011 6:25pm
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bases_loaded

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6,912 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:26 PM
GoChiefs;935700 wrote:15 car pileup at today's Indycar's World Championships. Wheldon airlifted to the hospital. Had his car tarped off. Didn't look good at all. Will Powers also sent to the hospital. They've red flagged the race and are having a drivers meeting right now. Supposed to be a good day for Wheldon after announcing today that he's taking over Danica's car next season when she leaves Indy for NASCAR.

Here's a video from Power's in car camera.

[video=youtube;O7DetQvUjoU][/video]

Was that weldons car that powers ran over?
Oct 16, 2011 6:26pm
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jordo212000

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10,664 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:37 PM
Yeah, I've seen a few videos and I can't tell which one was him
Oct 16, 2011 6:37pm
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Iliketurtles

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8,191 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:40 PM
RIP Dan. He was one of my favorites.
Oct 16, 2011 6:40pm
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GoJPM!

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799 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:42 PM
Had the honor of seeing and watching this year's Indy 500 winner race, in person, before today's awful crash. He was a great guy, a really cool dude. His win at Indy this year was only something that could have been scripted in a Hollywood movie. Unemployed driver, gets a one-off with a small team, and wins the biggest race coming out of the final corner. He was testing the new Indy Car and Honda turbo V-6 recently out at Mid-Ohio and was going to come back big next year, replacing Danica Patrick, in the Go Daddy car at Andretti Autosport. Izod Indy Car Series was going to make him the face of the series next season so this is such an enormous blow. Totally gutted right now. Words cannot describe what an empty feeling this has left me and many other open wheel fans today.


RIP Danny Boy.
Oct 16, 2011 6:42pm
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End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:46 PM
RIP Dan Wheldon......You will never be forgotten.

[video=youtube;Z0kGAz6HYM8][/video]
Oct 16, 2011 6:46pm
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GoJPM!

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799 posts
Oct 16, 2011 6:52 PM
oberhaus;935769 wrote:#77. Wasnt he in a Target car? He was part of that team at least.
He did a couple of races for Panther in 2003 in a second car. He drove for Andretti-Green (#26 Jim Beam car) from 2004-05, winning Indy and the championship in 2005. Moved to Target Chip Ganassi in 2006 (#10 car) and drove there until the end of '08. IN 2009, he returned to Panther to drive the #4 National Guard car. He left Panther following the 2010 season. He passed on some full-season rides with lesser teams to take a one-off ride with Brian Herta Motorsports who was running a collaborative effort with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in the #98 William-Rast/Curb/Agajanian car at Indy. Did some races in the booth for Versus this summer before doing the final two races for SSM in the #77 car at Kentucky and Vegas. Was also the offical test driver for the 2012 Dallara Indy car and Honda engined. Was signed last week to return to Andretti for 2012, replacing Danica Patrick.
Oct 16, 2011 6:52pm
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Ironman92

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49,363 posts
Oct 16, 2011 7:11 PM
I don't follow Indy or NASCAR but usually noticed Wheldon on the leaderboard.

RIP
Oct 16, 2011 7:11pm
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GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Oct 16, 2011 7:32 PM
derek bomar;935775 wrote:The Indianapolis Motor Speedway alone has had 56 people die on it. This "sport" (and NASCAR) is fucking stupid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_racing_drivers_who_died_in_racing_crashes
There were 42,636 people killed in car accidents in 2005. Guess that makes driving down the road fucking stupid too, right?
Oct 16, 2011 7:32pm