Skip to main content

Dan Wheldon died in a 'horrific wreck' on Sunday, one of 34 drivers on a crowded 1.5-mile oval

Open this photo in gallery:

Drivers, including Dan Wheldon (77, in air at left), crash during a wreck that involved 15 cars during the IndyCar Series' Las Vegas Indy 300 auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011.Jessica Ebelhar

1 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Will Power (L) hits the wall along with drivers J.R. Hildebrand (2nd L), Charlie Kimball (2nd R) and Paul Tracy (L) during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011.

2 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Will Power (L) goes airborne during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011.

3 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Drivers take the green flag to begin the IndyCar Series' Las Vegas Indy 300 auto race on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, in Las Vegas.Isaac Brekken

4 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Cars are scattered on the track after a 15 car crash in which Dan Wheldon died during the Las Vegas Indy 300 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.Robert Laberge

5 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

The race cars of drivers Wade Cunningham (R), J.R. Hildebrand (2nd R) and Townsend Bell (2nd L) hit the wall next to Jay Howard (L) during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011.

6 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

J.R. Hildebrand's car (R) lifts off the ground next to drivers Townsend Bell (L) and Jay Howard (C).STR

7 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

IndyCar drivers, including driver Dario Franchitti (foreground) of Scotland, line up for tribute laps to honor British driver Dan Wheldon at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.STEVE MARCUS/Reuters

8 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Drivers take five tribute laps in honor of Dan Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner who was killed in the IndyCar Series' Las Vegas Indy 300 auto race earlier Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 in Las Vegas.Isaac Brekken

9 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Officials and safety workers watch as drivers take five tribute laps in honor of Dan Wheldon.Eric Jamison

10 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

In this May 30, 2011 file photo, IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, of England, poses with his family, wife Susie, left, holding Oliver, and Sebastian, right, next to the Borg-Warner Trophy during the traditional winners photo of the Indianapolis 500 auto race champion on the start/finish line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Wheldon died Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 in a fiery 15-car wreck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his car flew over another on Lap 13 and smashed into the wall just outside turn 2. He was 33.Michael Conroy

11 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

Drew Boyd (L) helps Nick Garside hang a Union Jack as a tribute to two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon at a memorial at the gate of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 17, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Wheldon, winner of the 2011 Indy 500, was killed in a crash yesterday at the Izod IndyCar series season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "Dan was special. He was our hero, said Garside, who was originally from Yorkshire, England, after hanging the flag.Scott Olson

12 of 13
Open this photo in gallery:

A jug of milk is sits at the gate of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with other tributes left by fans to two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon on October 17, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Wheldon, winner of the 2011 Indy 500, was killed in a crash yesterday at the Izod IndyCar series season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is a tradition that the Indy 500 winner drinks milk after that race.

13 of 13

Interact with The Globe