2011 IndyCar Racing

Kentucky Race

1. Ed Carpenter

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...ter-by-a-nose/

http://www.indycar.com/schedule/race...300/1378-race/

Originally Posted by franka

Indy racing is close to dead despite the engine suppliers that are suppose to come into the series next year.

Way to go T George. He single handidly ruined a great series. The fruits of greed.

The lack of good TV coverage and lack of members here is indicative of a dying sport. What a shame. Indy racing was a premier event before TG's ego got in the way.

I'm totally with you. I grew up cheering for Ford against Offenhauser, Chevy and even Porsche engines back in a time when the best American drivers did Championship car racing on Sundays and driving dirt track sprints and midgets the night before. Today's Indy cars are boring to me with second tier drivers piloting the exact same equipment as everyone else on the track. I've moved on to F1 which is becoming only slightly less tedious. I'd love to see the day when manufacturers got back into racing.

Godspeed Dan Wheldon.

Some of much irony is that Dan did all the testing of next year's Dallara car which is much safer than the current car and that this was the last race of the season.

http://espn.go.com/racing/indycar/st...ar-crash-vegas

Las Vegas Race

Today is a very sad day in motorsports.

Dan Wheldon passed away after one of the worst pileup in IndyCar history.

Dan has contributed to the development of the 2012 IndyCar. The new car will be safer.

RIP Dan.


"We are incredibly saddened at the passing of Dan Wheldon. He was a great champion of the Indianapolis 500 and a wonderful ambassador for the race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and all of motorsports. Most importantly, he was a fantastic husband, father and man - a good friend to so many in this sport. His memory will live forever at the Speedway, both through the magnitude of his accomplishments on the track and his magnetism off the track. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his entire family, team and fans."
Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and CEO Jeff Belskus

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...ences-pour-in/

After IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and the spectators were informed, drivers voted to perform a five-lap salute to their friend and on-track competitor as series and track officials and crew members from all teams lined pit lane -- many weeping and comforting each other.

Three weeks earlier, Wheldon completed the test/validation program for the new Dallara Automobili chassis that features enhanced safety features. Wheldon, of Emberton, England, was 33. He is survived by his wife, Susie, two young sons, his parents, Clive and Susie, and three siblings.

The 200-lap race to decide the series championship and rookie of the year was ruled incomplete by INDYCAR officials and championship points would include races up through the Kentucky Indy 300 on Oct. 2. That gives the title to Dario Franchitti for the third consecutive year and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title to James Hinchcliffe.

Wheldon's car flew over another and caught part of the catch fence just past the apex of Turn 2. The incident left Townsend Bell's car upside down and smoldering cars strewn along the backstretch.

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...ries-in-crash/

Flags flew at half-staff at Dallara Automobili headquarters in Parma, Italy, on Oct. 17.

“Dan lives in the memory of everybody at Dallara,” company president and founder Gianpaolo Dallara said. “He has been a true champion; not only because of his many victories, but and above everything else, because he has been a true and warm man to all the people he encountered.

“All people at Dallara always enjoyed meeting him in Italy and in the USA. We will honor his memory for the years to come by dedicating the Dallara IndyCar 2012 in his name. He deserves that.”

http://www.dallara.it/

Let’s hope this will never happen again.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/dan-wheldon...ry?id=14758632

Funeral services for Dan Wheldon will be held at 10 a.m. (ET) Oct. 22 at First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, 701 Beach Drive N.E. in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Wheldon's wife, Susie, released the following statement on behalf of the family, inviting members of community to attend the service:

"Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days. The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.

"Dan touched the lives of many people, and I would like to invite those citizens in our community who knew and loved my husband to attend his funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg on Saturday, October 22, at 10 a.m.

"Though we won't be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing. Thank you again. I am forever grateful for your kindness."

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...urg-on-oct-22/

INDYCAR will hold a public memorial service to celebrate the life of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon at 4 p.m. (ET) Oct. 23 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and seating begins at 2:30.

The memorial also will be broadcast on www.indycar.com, VERSUS, ESPNEWS, ESPN3 and locally on WRTV-6 and WTTV-4.

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...ct-23-in-indy/

http://www.danwheldonmemorial.com/

St. Pete, Florida

AUTOSPORT magazine this week pays full tribute to Dan Wheldon, in the wake of his fatal crash at last weekend's IndyCar Series finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

As well as analysis of the accident and an obituary from editor Charles Bradley, we carry tributes from leading figures within motorsport, including Jenson Button, Bryan Herta, Michael Andretti, Andy Priaulx and many others. There is a pictorial record of Wheldon's career.

http://plus.autosport.com/free/featu...his-own-words/

http://plus.autosport.com/free/featu...eldon-tribute/

Safe Ovals

Long and fast - Indy

Short and slow - Milwaukee


Risky Oval

Short and fast – Las Vegas

As thousands of fans solemnly filed into Conseco Fieldhouse on a sunny afternoon in Indianapolis for a public memorial service for Dan Wheldon, small groups would pause to absorb the larger-than-life image of the Indianapolis 500 champion in the arena's entry.

"He was always smiling, just like in that picture," a teenager said, one hand gripping her father's and the other clutching a "hero card" that Wheldon autographed a few days before claiming his second Indy 500 victory in May.

Not only was Dan Wheldon the sport's 2005 champion, he was a 24/7 champion of the sport. That theme was repeated by the 10 speakers during the 90-minute program.

"The victories and the accolades, they didn't define him," INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard said in opening remarks. "His strong character, his enthusiastic approach to life and the love of family, friends and fans did. There was a reason he was a fan favorite. He loved life and it always showed."

A day earlier, family, friends and the community of his adopted home of St. Petersburg, Fla., overflowed First Presbyterian Church for his funeral. READ Wheldon died from injuries suffered in a race crash Oct. 16. He is survived by his wife, Susie, and two young sons.

On the arena's stage, Bernard motioned to the 2012 racecar that this summer Wheldon validated for performance and safety on a variety of racetracks and called for unity among teams, drivers and the series to strive to protect and improve the sport Wheldon loved.

"It was not surprising Dan was involved," Bernard said of the program that is continuing with engine manufacturer testing this fall. "His commitment to improving and advancing every aspect of our sport was well known. The innovations that emerge from those efforts can have repercussions not just on racetracks but on our highways and in our passenger cars. Just another measure of the impact that Dan had on our lives and INDYCAR."

Musical performances also were poignant during the ceremony. Reba McEntire sang "If I Had Only Known" at the start of the service, while rising country music stars The Band Perry performed "Amazing Grace." Garth Brooks closed the ceremony with an acoustic version of his hit "The Dance."

Also performing were the Indianapolis Children's Choir and the Gordon Pipers bagpipe group, an Indianapolis Motor Speedway tradition during Wheldon's beloved Month of May. A single bagpiper made his way down the center aisle and exited playing the haunting "Danny Boy."

A slide show of still photos from throughout Wheldon's life captured his successes, flair, spirit and warmth, and a video of thanks from his family for the outpouring of support was shown.

Decorating the stage were the Borg-Warner Trophy awarded to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis 500 winner's wreath, two bottles of milk signifying Wheldon's two Indy 500 victories, the Indy Racing League championship trophy that Wheldon won in 2005 and a 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series car painted in the St. George's cross of Wheldon's native England.

Speakers, including Wheldon's longtime managers and friends Mickey Ryan and Adrian Sussmann of GP Sports Management and Panther Racing public relations director Mike Kitchel, shared anecdotes of the former Carmel, Ind., resident's proclivity for phone pranks and his neatness.

"He was the little brother we didn't want," four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti said in jest as he was joined on the stage "to enter the 'No Cry Zone' " by Tony Kanaan and Bryan Herta. "He's the only guy on the Borg-Warner Trophy with two sets of teeth."
The trio wore Wheldon's 2005 championship ring that he presented them, and Franchitti wore white shoes in his honor.

"I'm grateful for the time we got to spend with him on Earth," Kanaan said following the laughter. "Although that time here is done, our time together is not over. We have our memories. We have our feelings. And one day we will be together again.

"For that reason, I'm not saying goodbye to Dan. Not today. And not ever. Goodbye is final, and our friendship won't end. So for now, I'm simply saying I'll see you later. I love you."

As Herta shared with the audience, he witnessed a transformation in Wheldon between his 2005 and 2011 Indianapolis 500 victories that "made him complete." It was his zest for life and love of family and friends, Herta said, that will live in the hearts of everyone.

Also speaking at the service were Target Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and CEO Jeff Belskus. INDYCAR Ministries chaplain also offered condolences to the family of Michael Wanser -- the young son of Target Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Barry Wanser -- who died earlier in the day from his battle with leukemia.

The public was invited to leave messages on large banners that flanked the entry photograph. Many brought flowers, photos and other mementos.

The Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund has been established for the financial security of Wheldon's family. The public can make contributions to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund at:
Fifth Third Private Bank
Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust
251 North Illinois St., Suite 1000
Indianapolis, IN 46204

All Fifth Third Bank branches also are accepting contributions in person, which will be routed to the account, and credit card donations can be made via http://www.danwheldonmemorial.com/donate.html

The Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund is a taxable trust fund for the benefit of the Wheldon family. Contributions to it are not considered charitable contributions, and could have federal gift tax consequences. Please consult your own legal or tax advisors regarding these potential tax consequences.

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...and-39-s-life/

Dan Wheldon’s final laps at the Indy road course. He was testing a Pro Star-Mazda racecar.

http://www.starmazda.com/

http://www.starmazda.com/news/series...TI%20Story.pdf