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Post by blacktulip on Oct 17, 2011 8:34:39 GMT
RIP Dan.
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Post by blacktulip on Oct 17, 2011 8:37:06 GMT
The father-of-two died from injuries he sustained after his car was sent flying through the air into a barrier surrounding the track before bursting into flames.
British Formula One champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton led tributes to the 33-year-old, describing him as “talented and inspirational” driver.
He was one of the most successful British drivers in America, having moved to Florida to further his career, and had twice previously won the Indianapolis 500 – in 2005 and 2011.
Wheldon, who grew up in Emberton, Bucks, leaves his wife, Susie, and two sons Sebastian, two, and six-month-old Oliver.
Button, a contemporary of Wheldon’s during their karting days, wrote on Twitter: “Just woken up to the most horrific news. Dan Wheldon RIP... I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90s, a true fighter.”
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Post by gizzy on Oct 19, 2011 0:52:53 GMT
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Post by gizzy on Oct 20, 2011 0:12:31 GMT
Here is some more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_WheldonThis is a pic of Dan slurping some milk: www.danwheldon.com/High speed ovals can be very dangerous at 225mph all the way around the track... it takes some cajones to do this in tight traffic. I prefer road races. |
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Post by digital_F1 on Oct 21, 2011 0:14:01 GMT
Like everyone, I couldn't believe it when I heard!! Such a sad loss. It's shocking apparently the commentators were even talking about too many cars for the track size - and then the pile up with all those cars involved  Just like with most of motor racing, it seems like it takes a bad accident to make well needed changes to the circuits and the rules! |
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Post by gizzy on Oct 23, 2011 23:41:17 GMT
Two row restarts have been a major problem this year. Bunched up open wheel traffic is a recipe for disaster for open wheel cars. F1 cars have a better designed floor which keeps them on the ground. Indy cars have a much flatter underside which can make them airborn.
This design change may not have prevented the accident...because wheel to wheel contact at 225 mph is treacherous in traffic.
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Post by gizzy on Oct 28, 2011 0:30:47 GMT
Alex Zanardi gives his 2 cents on Wheldon's horrible death in Vegas: www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95688I respect Alex's opinion. Maybe some rule changes are in order. Wing changes? Floor changes? The cars are too bunched up, and they are prone to going airborne. Let's rethink and review the current design. |
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Post by gizzy on Oct 29, 2011 23:37:58 GMT
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Post by fizzycola on Oct 30, 2011 20:54:29 GMT
RIP Dan
Seems these days everyone is an Indycar specialist with views on what could be changed......
It was an accident.....a racing incident.....
He knew the risks when he took up motor racing...he died doing the sport he loved.. he knew what was involved, he knew he may die doing the sport he loved.... many of us do dangerous jobs and we all know the risks we take involving doing our own
dangerous jobs..... it's life....... but is no-ones fault as we choose to do it but our own...same with Dan.........
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Post by gizzy on Dec 17, 2011 1:59:57 GMT
Fiz, It was a racing accident with unfortunate consequences. But, as an Engineer I think we can redesign certain things to prevent this from reoccuring. Racing is inherantly dangerous, we realize this certainty. In the last 10 years, we have introduced SAFER barriers, HANS devices, and other things to protect drivers.
We must push the development of more stuff to protect drivers. I can't think of anything which could of prevented this death, but there has been a drastic decrease in driver deaths in the last 25 years because of new safety technology.
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