RIP Dan Wheldon

[Pappy13]

I'm not really a race car fan, but my wife is and I must say that was one horrific crash. Dan was one of the good ones. He'll be missed...especially by his wife and 2 young sons.

[Dave Gray]

Often the worst looking crashes are the ones that are easiest to walk away from.  This wasn't the case.  It looked bad and it was bad.

[TonyB0D]

it's because it's indycar....nascar they are just so much more protected....indy cars are far more dangerous in crashes. 

i had to watch the footage of that crash well over 100 times yesterday...i didnt want to see it at all.

[SportsChick]

As soon as we saw the breaking news of the crash Brian said "someone is dead". Unfortunately he was right. It was just horrific to see. RIP Dan.

[Spider-Dan]

I happened to be watching this live as it happened.

Dan Wheldon was actually interviewed before the race, as he had chosen to take up some bigwig's (IndyCar commissioner?) offer of a 5 million dollar prize to any non-series-regular if they won.  He was the "race reporter" for ABC on this race.

At the exact moment the crash happened, they were actually showing the in-car camera of Wheldon.  You saw the collision and the chaos, just as he did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOGgu9Vnnws&feature=related

Unfortunately, the last thing he ever saw was captured and broadcast on live national television.

[Pappy13]

it's because it's indycar....nascar they are just so much more protected....indy cars are far more dangerous in crashes. 

i had to watch the footage of that crash well over 100 times yesterday...i didnt want to see it at all.

It's not just protection, it's the speed and design of the indy car. I've seen them hit the wall hundreds of time without a scratch, but you go airborne and flip as his car did and anything can happen. Most are saying it was the fact that he hit above the wall and hit the fence that probably caused his death. The fence gives, but you don't bounce off the fence the way you do the wall, you tend to get "caught" in the fence which causes a very sudden stop. Going from 200 to zero almost instantaneously has a very high potential for head injuries. Your brain just isn't equipped to handle that.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Very sad indeed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and their small children. RIP Dan!!!!!

[CF DolFan]

Very sad. RIP Dan!!

[BigDaddyFin]

It's very sad.  I've often sat and wondered why there's no over the top rollover structure in these cars to speak of.  Like their F1 counterparts the carbon fiber monocauque chassis is supposed to disintegrate on impact.  It can also withstand a hell of a shot from an oncomming car.  But once that thing goes airborne, your head is still exposed and you're at the mercy of the laws of physics.   That stupid tow-hook bar behind the driver isn't going to do much. 

Mr. Wheldon, you were a worthy 500 champ and you will be missed.  Thank you for the memories, may your legacy be the wonderful stuff you did and not this other crap.