Living in the fast lane can be dangerous, and every time the drivers put on their helmets, they’re putting their lives on the line. The motorsports community has lost hundreds of drivers over the years, encompassing different disciplines like NASCAR, F1, IndyCar, and more. We’ve seen larger-than-life figures like Dale Earnhardt, Ayrton Senna, Gilles Villeneuve, and many more cut down in their prime. However, 16th October, 2011 to 23rd October, has to be one of the darkest weeks in motorsport, thanks to Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli.

Wheldon was killed in a multi-car accident at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the final race of the season. That year, he did not have a full-time ride because of sponsorship issues. However, he did race in the Indianapolis 500 and won it for the 2nd time, becoming the first driver to triumph after leading only the final lap. Wheldon then raced at Kentucky and finished 14th, and then Vegas ended up being his final race before his untimely death.

How good was Dan Wheldon in his prime?

Dan Wheldon’s IndyCar career kicked off in 2002, and since then, he has amassed 128 starts, 16 wins, and the 2005 title. He raced for Andretti Green Racing back in the day, and took 6 wins in his championship year, including 3 in a row. Wheldon’s prime years were between 2004 and 2010, as he never finished lower than 10th in the championship in that timeframe.

What’s actually incredible is that he could have been a 2-time IndyCar champion. The year after his title triumph, he and Sam Hornish Jr. tied on points for the lead, but Hornish was deemed the winner based on more wins. After his Andretti stint, he drove for Chip Ganassi Racing for three years. This union yielded six wins and a runner-up finish, resulting in a tie. Finally, in the final race of 2008, he joined Panther Racing, one of the oldest IndyCar teams.

This partnership lasted for another 3 years before his sponsorship ran out. For the 2011 season, Bryan Herta Autosport recruited him for the Indy 500, which he won, Wheldon’s last ever win. He did not make another appearance until that fateful finale race in Las Vegas, driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

Few drivers were regarded as more ‘complete’ than Dan Wheldon in his prime. He was quick, consistent, and intelligent behind the wheel, versatile enough to succeed on both ovals and road courses. His ability to extract maximum performance from his vehicles, especially in varying conditions, earned the British driver a lot of street cred in the motorsports world. Wheldon was even the primary test driver for the new Dallara chassis, which was later renamed DW12 in his honor, leaving a legacy where he shaped the next era of IndyCar racing.

NASCAR fans reflected on the memory of the IndyCar star

Dan Wheldon was just 33 years old at the time of his passing, still in the prime of his career. Incidentally, ahead of the fateful Vegas race, the British driver had signed a deal with Andretti Autosport for the 2012 season, replacing Danica Patrick. Had he lived, who knows what could have happened in the rest of his career? Perhaps that’s why one Reddit user said, “I think the likelihood of seeing another 4-time Indy 500 winner in my lifetime is slim. But I think Dan could have done it had he lived. He was a great driver.” 

Another fan recalled being in Vegas and watching the tragedy live. The netizen recalled, “Was in the stands that day. It was such a surreal experience.” Another motorsports enthusiast couldn’t believe just how long it had been since that fatal crash, going on to say, “Can’t believe it’s been 14 years already, I still remember watching that day.” Fair to say that Wheldon’s memory is very much alive for IndyCar fans, despite years passing by since that fateful incident.

People in the NASCAR community also recalled their emotions when the dreaded announcement came. Hoping that Dan Wheldon’s son will carry his legacy going forward, one Reddit user said, “I remember being in a hurry to get home that day to watch that race, and when I turned the tv on, they were under a red flag. It was such a deflating feeling seeing a replay of the crash and them announcing Wheldon’s death. Just heartbreaking. I could be mistaken, but I think his son races now, too. Maybe he will be a future Indy 500 champion like his dad.”

The actual crash itself was pretty brutal, as it involved 15 cars, and Wheldon was near the back when his vehicle went airborne. One fan recollected the incident, saying, “I was watching it live because the NASCAR race was the night before, and the Ravens played late that day. I couldn’t believe my eyes at how savage that crash was. They’re extremely lucky another driver or two wasn’t killed there. Will Power nearly went into the catch fence too, but caught a lucky bounce, AND he had an entire wheel fly by his head.” All in all, Dan Wheldon paid the ultimate price, but he did it while doing what he loved. Sadly, he would not be the last Indy fatality, as that honor went to Justin Wilson in 2015 at Pocono.