IndyCar 10/16/2011 - Las Vegas Bad Big Crash - RIP Dan Wheldon

[TruckDriver]

This is the worst accident I even seen in Indy Car racing. Three cars go airborn. This years Indy 500 winner Danny Wheldon was airlifted to the hospital. At least 4 other driver went to the hospital as well.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVu7iTf59SQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1UrfkvAbv0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1qmMPnLL1U

My thoughts are with the drivers involved. I grew up in the racing world, so I know how it is.   Rest in peace Dan

[bobs66440]

That's terrible. 

[nvrbdn]

a sad day for racing  rip dan

[NHCharger]

Wow, horrific accident. Hopefully they will improve safety like NASCAR did after Earnhart's death. The speeds these cars travel and the minimal protection they have makes me wonder why not more drivers have been injured or killed.

[68RT4ME]

Very sad to see that happen to him. I hate to think that his family was right there to see this but they probably were and that's a shame too. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

[nvrbdn]

yep, wife and 2 boys plus his brothers were at the race.

[400/6/PAC]

Very sad.
RIP Dan

[bobs66440]

yep, wife and 2 boys plus his brothers were at the race.

That's probably the biggest tragedy. It just doesn't get much worse than that. Just a very bad situation.

[tan top]

sad !!  RIP Dan  !!  just watching them wreck like that !!  my own view is !!  that kind of racing with open top cars & that sustained high speed is mad !! wonder there has been  many more deaths , its crazy !  

[nvrbdn]

you are right tan top. and like the drivers said, that type racing shouldnt be on this kind of track. too long of straights getting too much speed and 3 to 4 wide racing. usually it only 2 cars battling for a spot where here you had 12 cars bunched together in a turn going 220 mph. its nuts

[Aero426]

you are right tan top. and like the drivers said, that type racing shouldnt be on this kind of track. too long of straights getting too much speed and 3 to 4 wide racing. usually it only 2 cars battling for a spot where here you had 12 cars bunched together in a turn going 220 mph. its nuts

Too long of straights?    It's only a 1.5 mile track!    The cars go as fast through the corners as they do on the straights.    

The speed is definitely an issue, but more so is the NASCAR style pack racing with too many cars and no separation between them.      If you take them off the 1.5 mile track, well then the one mile tracks like Milwaukee and Louden are an issue too.   They now run 170 at Milwaukee which is a FLAT one mile oval.    Honestly, I don't know at what speed you could slow them down so that open wheel racing on an oval becomes "safe".    Cockpit side first into the wall or debris fence is a deal breaker no matter the speed.   

I also heard that Greg Moore's dad was at the track yesterday.   His first race attended of any kind since his son was killed at Fontana in 1999.  

[nvrbdn]

i think what they were referring to is that a normal cart track is broken up with lots of turns and a thinner racing surface. a nascar track is more wide open racing with a wider surface putting more cars in the same area and not having to lift in the corners leave you with a much faster speed.

[69rtse4spd]

 , R.I.P. Dan.