Dan Wheldon is dead The accident provides criticism, questions - and a wave of sympathy.
Obscure ideas about the severity of the accident, one could already make reference to the first pictures and reactions. Over the two-hour transfer was then sad knowing what seemed based on interviews and to pave the tone of the commentators already. Dan Wheldon had died after a horror crash in the twelfth round of the IndyCar season finale "unüberlebbaren injury" as told IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard in a brief statement. The Indy loses one of the most talented pilots in recent years - especially at a moment when his career to go back in a positive direction appeared. The loss to the motorsport world is but it goes far, as evidenced by the numerous expressions of sympathy.
Dan Wheldon could do it in Europe. But after years of success in junior British series did not have the money. Other teams have taken place in cheap, sold out to sponsors, or received more credit - Wheldon went to the USA. There the road begins anew by the lower leagues: U.S. Formula Ford 2000, Toyota Atlantics, Indy Lights, finally.
The big chance came in 2002, with two stints in Chicago and Texas land for Panther Racing. Two positions in the midfield were the result - but Wheldon won enough to be contacted by Andretti Green Racing, Dario Franchitti was as much of the season after a motorcycle accident knocked out about 2003. It was the beginning of Wheldons probably the most successful time in the IRL. After a year he celebrated settling in 2004 in his first win at Motegi, after which he also won at Richmond and Nazareth. Oodles of third places secured him at the end of the second in the championship.
Then, in 2005, the year was great - five victories, including the Indy 500, and three podiums in 17 races put him at the end of his first and only championship. Also in 2006, now in the team of Chip Ganassi, Wheldon had almost won the title. Only the better statistics provided at the end of this victory that placed equal on points Sam Hornish Jr. was able to secure the title.
To a hair Wheldons career would still have taken a different course. For the 2006 season, he had to be an offer, a test driver for BMW Sauber. He declined - he preferred to ride in his second home race United States, as in Europe to get half a chance.
After that came through a rough period in his career, even after two years he was replaced in 2009 by NASCAR for Ganassi, Dario Franchitti returnees. Wheldon returned to Panther Racing, where he had begun his career - and was probably the best member of a team total of weakening. Especially on the faster ovals he could convince even the Panther cars. Wheldon is especially made but a reputation as Indianapolis-specialist - twice in a row where he reached the second rank.
2011 he left the armed Panthers. I understand that you were unhappy with each other. Panther Wheldons services. Wheldon and the fact that his team had the parts of what he considered to be agreed salary not paid. A place at a top team was not in sight. And, as Wheldon said : "I'd rather play with my kids than jump into some Shitbox."
Instead, he prepared himself in a small team of Bryan Herta meticulously preparing for the Indy 500 - and was rewarded. The victory in the last turn - after the failure of JR Hildebrand in the car the Panther team, for the Wheldon was not good enough - must be one of the best moments have been in his career.
A cockpit for the remainder of the season he was not the same. Instead, he developed, along with Bryan Herta Autosport, the car for the upcoming season. Besides, he was sitting on some races as co-commentator on "Versus" on the microphone - even there he showed himself to be a welcome change to the dedicated, but sometimes clueless team.
Then he climbed into the cockpit yet again. The IndyCar wanted to generate additional power for the grand finale. A plan to attract, drivers from other series with a victory bonus of five million dollars in the IndyCar had previously failed. So they offered Wheldon at 2.5 million, he should have won the race from last position - another 2.5 million would go to a fan.
Man, when the time comes, ask tough questions and need. Not all can be answered. Precisely because of the boundary between acceptable risk and senseless spectacle, it will be on the part of the assets and to the fans always have different opinions. The final decision to sit in a racing car can and will in the future but no one can remove the drivers. Not always that decision will be easy. And yet: The hope remains that this accident also be drawn from the right lessons. As always look like they may seem.
Especially at the beginning of his U.S. career as Wheldon "Difficult Dan" was decried. His frank, occasionally ambitious occurrence shot both on camera, and sometimes within the team beyond the mark. Especially this year, but another Dan Wheldon came from the media - perhaps more mature and thoughtful than in previous years.
In 2012 he signed a few days ago a contract with Andretti Autosport. It would have been interesting to follow his return to a better team.
Dan Wheldon is survived by his wife Susie, his young sons Oliver and Sebastian, his parents and siblings. They deserve our special sympathy.
It may be a cliché, but what remains of Whledon, are also his fans around the world - and a lot of memories.
His last Twitter message went to a fan who had proposed to move its competitors with shares of the prize money to let him pass. The answer was half-jokingly and half seriously: "That's not the way to win my man!". Dan Wheldon was aware of his talent. He could afford to win with style.
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Errors in the Chronology was not his big year in 2004 but 2005th In 2006 he switched to Ganassi for which he won in January, the same Rolex 24 at Daytona ... that imo is also mentioned.
Thanks for the note - in the chronology of what actually has slipped. Corrected.
Thank you for the very sympathetic article. I had, like many others, the pictures have a bad feeling that yes unfortunately confirmed.
Praise also goes to Marty Reid, Scott Goodyear and Eddie Cheever, who found the right note yesterday. They speculated not, they gave, at least not directly, no one to blame, and led through the difficult hours after the accident. Some commercial break was too much, but probably have the three breaks have badly needed. There are indeed no soulless robots, but people who live the sport as well, which are close to it and know the family well Indycar. They were always professional and do not hide their emotions has certainly helped a lot of fans yesterday. The Abchiedsworte Marty was more than fitting.
"Many people ask me why I always sign off 'Till we meet again.' Because goodbye is always so final. Goodbye, Dan Wheldon "
drive fast, die young! rip dan!
Chapeau!
And thank you for this article!
At a moment when silence is the most appropriate solution, I just can not continue to talk and be. I have followed the race yesterday and here in the F1Fanatic Live blog as well as the live image and said no sound. But my heart cries out for justice, which can never be found. A man lost his life, just to entertain myself. No one would invest a penny in car racing, if there were any fans. Dan Wheldon had to pay for everyone's entertainment with his life. I'm just not going to waste. I love auto racing, but now I stand here and can not continue.
I can not and will not change when it comes to auto racing, but there is just the moment when you have to go in and before the question is, what one really believes. And since I can paraphrase just above wisdom:
I hope we will finally meet, Dan Wheldon. May he rest in peace, if I'm wrong.
It's so hard to comprehend what had happened at all or even to put into words. I want to thank caution so intimately, for his article probably did not only helped me a lot.
All the tragedy of this accident, the pain and the pictures, as you mitfuhr with Dan Wheldon in the last moments of his life, I will never forget.
My deepest sympathy goes out to all friends, colleagues and acquaintances, and especially his parents, his wife and children.
Also I would like to join Marty Reid's words, therefore,
"Many people ask me why I always sign off 'Till we meet again.' Because goodbye is always so final. Goodbye, Dan Wheldon "
First, for the nice article from a sad occasion.
@ Batis
How did you formulate your excellent comment. It was not me in the crash and probably, at first I thought they are both probably remain hanging on the wall. But I was wrong and because the cars were already on the bottom line, which was then almost the entire back of the field and picked it take forever to not stop crashing.
That there will be one or the other accident in this race, so everyone has expected, but at this scale has to stand the feeling remains that time.
The feeling of something to watch, is always bad, as you motor sports but likes the emotion, the sound, the drivers ... all these things are so positive.
But there is also the motor sport, as with most other things in life, there is a downside. Due to the great professionalism and security efforts in the vehicle, etc. We see this today, fortunately, much rarer than they were a couple decades.
In the 70s, once told an F-1 driver's wife, that if they go into a shop, still something black miteinkaufe, because it will surely be needed soon.
The looming shadow is not as deep, but when he once again makes broad, we no longer happens as we know. I do not even own what to write, but somehow the need to rearrange my thoughts again. It was the first time I've seen a fatal crash live on TV, live performances I had ever been on the mountain race Oberhallau / CH 2004th Could not see the accident itself, but the atmosphere has decreased with increasing duration and on.
I do not think Dan must go alone to our conversation of us. To thee be the interview with Tony Kanaan to heart. In it he says so poignant, as he and all the other drivers are glowing heart for this sport. He speaks on the one side that he has now been through far too many crashes, on the other hand, he loves racing so much and his team-mates would want all those leaving, they should have to leave the earth early.
The problems are not about the person who goes, but those that remain. I think TK has found in his great grief really impressive words.
The shock is still low, I've certainly not found the right words.
Dan may find his peace and his family continue to be close, so she gets strength to endure the blow.
@ Saamy48 :
I wanted to thank the author for the nice article from a sad occasion. The word thanks is missing in my 'novel' in front of 10 minutes and should be added here yet.
Written very sympathetically, thank you for it.
Thank you. Thank you for this beautiful tribute. Although I come (and read on) at the very thought again the tears (the seconds after the tragedy was announced, were the same as the 5-tribute laps but the minute after that bad for me, I could not help myself as the tears and emotions can run wild), but it helps to process the tragedy. The sticking point is really the last seconds that we have seen from his board before they went into the shot and his spotter (perhaps it was his spotter, I do not know) still loudly screamed into the radio. But since the chain reaction began its already running. To me it still seems surreal, everything that has happened. Wheldon is that now in a different place, is something I still can not quite handle - it will probably take another few days. Obituaries like your help in processing. It is the last honor we had a champion and a family man like Dan Wheldon to prove still can. May he rest in peace. A lot of power to his family and relatives.
ABC's split-screen advertising, I was initially very irreverent, but later with the situation but handled very well. The bewilderment of the three commentators was to listen, sometimes you struggle to hear the tears. As Don wrote: There are no soulless robots. People like us all. People who mourned also by Dan Wheldon. People who knew that it must be bad for his condition. The 5-round tribute I found strange at first, when it was announced via Twitter, it will take five laps slow. But since you did not know what it was, they knew the meaning behind it yet. The idea, as it announced deceases Wheldons again to start the engine, I took up a few seconds before they are even set off a little strange. Only then I was clear, however, that it was a good idea after all. It was certainly a possibility for the driver to go in himself, without being observed by cameras. The images in the paddock finally spoke volumes.
"Many people ask me why I always sign off 'Till we meet again.' Because goodbye is always so final. Goodbye, Dan Wheldon ".
That was beautifully said.
Goodbye, Dan Wheldon.
I found myself yesterday on the way home, when I read of an evil Indycarunfall on Twitter read. My first stop was of course the chat when I read how the accident happened, I had a very bad Gefühl.Später I finally saw the pictures at home and I felt sick, it was an absolute nightmare. Unfortunately the very tragic and sad truth about Dan Wheldon later confirmed that during the oppressive ignorance ABC did to the side-by-side advertising to fill very reasonable. In view of what happened there, you can pay tribute to the TV crew only the highest respect. For the commentators are also friends with many drivers and are for many years in Indycarzirkus. However, they found the right words, even if they sometimes hear that fell hard. Especially worth mentioning here is Marty Reid.
It is the first death of a driver, I've noticed so intensely by a TV broadcast, so I was very close yesterday. I was wrong when it came to be carried out not restart and Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan took as I find a very suitable option for Dan Wheldon honor. Before the 5 laps I was not sure, but then had the appropriate and very respectful of Dan Wheldon. About the causes and consequences will be discussed later enough is not the right moment.
Big respect to my colleagues care for the moving article that was certainly not easy to write.
My deepest condolences and sympathies to his family and friends.
Thank you Dan, we will miss you.
Thank you first for the article and the comments differentiated. Nice to see that the Internet can be handled difficult issues at a high level.
Any serious (fatal) accident in motorsport reveals a perceived contradiction in me - between my "fan-ness" and a sense of what might be best described as "rage".
This anger will involve a sport in itself - to its other key players, the driver. The reason for this is that we are all as unique human beings to the world, and our life is just as unique. Every human being "only live once", and it is justified, this gift is so easy to put on the line, just out of love for motor sports? How do you answer that to those who would like to live (further), but "innocent" must go due to illness or accident? What would be said Dan Wheldon, was it worth it, his wife and children (their father was never able to get to know the "right" person), then leave alone?
This may (in particular, a day after Wheldons death) hard listen, but sorry, these are the questions I ask myself at the moment ... and I know very well that this accident my interest (long term) for the motor sport will not slow down . And that's too nice illusion to limit my "fan-ness" to supposedly safe racing series in order to circumvent the above-discussed contradiction.