Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California
August 26-28, 2011
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Dan Wheldon dead at 33
10.16.2011 Dan Wheldon dead at too early of an age:
Dan Wheldon was involved in a massive 15 car wreck on the 12th lap of the IndyCar's season final race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this October 16, 2011. Dan received unsurvivable injuries as his car launched airborne over the car in front of him.
The 30 plus field of cars was traveling at 220 MPH in a tight 3 wide pack when one mid pack car started drifting out of line. As drivers started braking and being pushed off their racing line, all hell erupted. Spinning cars started to hit the outside wall sending fire into the air and suspension parts into the track. The following cars slowed and became the lunching ramps which sent at least 3, 220 mph cars into the air, (as per this writers view point from the TV feed) including Dan Wheldon's, which turned into a spiraling death spin sending Dan's high up into the catch-fence.
The fire and carnage on the track as the cars collided and flew through the air was devastating and I, as a viewer, could only think "my God can everyone be OK". But that was not to be so.
As we all listen in as the still running cars circling the track returned to the place of horror, one driver speaking to his pit crew said "there is no way to miss all the debris on the track".
The pre-race talk was abut how the new work on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway would effect the racing and the conclusion was that it would allow very high speeds and 3 to 4 wide racing through the turns.
Dan Wheldon had previously won the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
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