Dan Wheldon

[PRS56]

Gratitude to the Indycar management for handling a very difficult and heartbreaking situation with dignity and caring.
It took courage not to restart the race in light of what happened.
Hopefully the five lap tribute will give the drivers and teams some closure as they head home for the off-season.
RIP Dan

[Richard Dziak]

Life is precious and can change in an instant. Dan Wheldon died what he loved doing, driving race cars.

For those who saw the race, Dan Wheldon spoke live with the TV announcers in the warm up lap, he thanked all the people that made his final ride possible.

I have to wonder why the Indy Car promoters want to increase the HP next year from 600 HP to 700 HP. This event shows the danger with current levels.

May Dan Wheldon R.I.P., and I am so sorry for his wife, children and immediate family.

My flag flys at half staff with a checkered flag for Dan Wheldon.

[RStephens]

R.I.P. Dan.

[imaracingmom]

A very sad day for the racing community. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and team. Motorsports lost an amazing ambassador to the sport today. R.I.P. Dan.

[Jnovak]

There are no words that can mean much at a time like this. Total sadness that a great racer had to go. All of our prayers are with Dan & his family. RIP Dan.

Jay Novak

[DB4 Tim]

Great Racer,
Great Loss
God Bless His Soul
The real tribute to Dan would be a rational discussion why the top level of open wheel racing in the US is based on overpowered(detuned),over tired, so much downforce that the wings at Indy are negative for qualifying crappy spec cars. How about we go back to what it shoul'd be. Anytime you have to be flat out 100% on a lap you"re not a driver you're a passenger. Indy Car on ovals has become restrictor plate racing with dramatically worst results. Dan came from F2000 underpowered cars with great competition. Lower cost, safer racing, giving more drivers like Dan who came up through the ranks a chance. Slow them down, reduce cost,increase competition and add fans.

Spot on...

[ASRF1000]

There is another thread started on here for IndyCar safety issues for those who want to discuss it.

[Ron B.]

Close to home - we all in FF and FC know Jon and Brad. A good story behind a good guy who was given a shot over here by other good guys.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/02/Sp...waiting_.shtml

Found this reading the Marshall Pruett article on speed.com.

[Cole Morgan]

ESPN Classic will air both of Dan Wheldons Indy 500 wins tonight in Memory of Dan. 2005 is on right now.

[Bob Coury]

If anybody finds any tribute decals in remembrance of Dan, please post.

[Cole Morgan]

Just saw via Twitter that the westboro baptist church plans to protest Dan's funeral. They say he carried the traitorous colors of the National Guard for years. One of these days someone needs to wipe those people off the face of the earth.

[Northwind]

Or move them over to live with the taliban.

[Trhoades]

All day my thoughts have been returning to Dan Wheldon, he was a class act and had a passion for what he did very well. I will miss him not being at the track.....sad sad deal.

[Jon Jeffords]

Gate at Indy...

[swiftdrivr]

maybe the National Guard can muster enough people to crowd out the psychos from Westboro. And while they are at it, maybe somebody could remind them of the bible's admonition against pride. They are one huge ego trippin bunch of nut-cases.

[Bob Coury]

If the Westboro people show, let's quietly round them up and send them to Gitmo..

[Purple Frog]

Forwarded from Mike Rand:

[FONT=Arial]A MESSAGE FROM RRDC PRESIDENT BOBBY RAHAL[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]
October 17, 2011

Dan Wheldon: Rest In Peace

On Sunday the Road Racing Drivers Club lost a fellow member, the racing community lost a brilliant talent and the Wheldon family lost a husband and father. The last tragic loss is the only one that really matters. Our hearts are burdened with grief for Dan's family and we hope they feel the arms of their friends around them.

Racing can be a bitter sport, but life in the racing community is so exhilarating that, year after year, incident after incident, drivers choose to race. Dan continued when others had troubles; his fellow RRDC members will as well, some even soon. Racing isn't heartless; those who participate know that there is no community more loving or more mutually supportive. Racing is a rewarding way of life that Dan and his fellow RRDC members chose, and loved, for very personal reasons.

Dan Wheldon was our teammate, our competitor and our friend. The RRDC will do what we can to help his family, and we will always honor this lovely man. Then we will do what Dan would have done; we will go racing.

[/FONT][FONT=Arial]Bobby Rahal[/FONT]

[Bob Coury]

An article about Dan karting at PBIR:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/...wComments=true

[dc]

This photo turned up on Jenson Buttons Twitter account, reTweeted from Anthony Davidson. That's Anthony in the seat ready to go out for a heat race with Jenson sitting on the left rear tire, and Dan Wheldon sitting on the left front.

[starkejt]

Who is the fellow standing in the red/blue suit?

[dc]

He wasn't mentioned, so evidently not someone you would know.

[Revs2-12k]

Nice touch to add the photo of Dan & his William Rast Indy 500 ride to the banner above. RIP

[provamo]

Nice touch to add the photo of Dan & his William Rast Indy 500 ride to the banner above. RIP

Ditto that!

[JRMarchand]

Nice post Doug, i got lost looking at that picture.

[Purple Frog]

We all will be in St. Petersburg (7th ave N.E, and Beach Dr.) saturday morning at 10a.m. , either physically or in spirit.

[Bob Coury]

I will be there in spirit-I wish I was off work to make the drive over.

Info for those of you attending:
http://oldnortheast.patch.com/articl...raw-big-crowds

[NPalacioM3]

I thought many of you may like to see these for sale on ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dan-Wheldon-...item27bf91281d