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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
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World Mourns IndyCar Driver's Death

Champion Indycar driver Dan Wheldon died after his car crashed during the season's final race. 

The racing world mourns the death of professional driver Dan Wheldon Monday, after his fatal crash during an IndyCar race Sunday. 

Wheldon lost control of his car after getting caught up in a 15-vehicle pileup during IndyCar's season-closing race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Dan Wheldon's Car (Associated Press)
Dan Wheldon's Car (Associated Press)

His car burst into flames as it smashed into a fence.

Two hours later, track officials confirmed that the 33-year-old driver was dead.

Wheldon's death is shadowed by speculation surrounding the safety of that particular track.  The Las Vegas Speedway is a mere 1.5 miles long and on Sunday held 34 cars all pushing 225mph. 

"We all had a bad feeling about this place in particular just because of the high banking and how easy it was to go flat," said driver Oriol Servia. 

Wheldon, a two-time Indyanapolis 500 champion, is mourned by fans and fellow drivers.  

"One minute you're joking around at driver intros and the next, Dan's gone," said Dario Franchitti.  "Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend.  He was such a good guy.  He was a charmer."

Franchitti was one of the drivers who took part in a five-lap salute in Wheldon's honor, driving through the accident debris that was still on the track.  

Wheldon moved to the U.S. from his native England in 1999 to pursue racing.  He is succeeded by his wife and two sons. 

 

 

RELATED:

Neon Tommy: English Racer Dan Wheldon Dies in Vegas IndyCar Race

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