Sunday afternoon, two time Indianapolis 500 champ Dan Wheldon died in a horrific mult-icar crash in Las Vegas.
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[/media-credit]Weldon, 33, was in the running for the $5 million if he won the race. The officials stopped the race and had a meeting with the other drivers and were informed of Wheldon’s passing. When the race resumed, pit crews lined pit road weeping and trying comfort each other.
“I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff. I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it’s about. One small mistake from somebody. Right now I’m numb and speechless,” he said.
“One minute you’re joking around in driver intros and the next he’s gone. He was 6 years old when I first met him. I told his son Thursday night at the parade on The Strip that I’ve known his dad since he was your age. And then I talked to a friend of mine, Jesse Spence, that I used to race go-karts with that we’ve known him since he was this little kid. His mouth worked plenty good, but he was just this little kid and the next thing you know he was my teammate in INDYCAR. We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships and today it doesn’t matter.” Franchitti said about the death of his long time friend.
Wheldon leaves behind his wife Susie Behm, 2 year old son Sebastian, 16 month old son Oliver his parents and three siblings.