Catchfence » Dan Wheldon

Dodge NASCAR Nationwide Series Phoenix International Raceway Post Race Notes & Quotes

Press Release — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:05:13 +0000

Dodge Motorsports

WYPALL 200

NASCAR Nationwide Series

Dodge NNS Final Race Quotes

http://twitter.com/teamdodge

SAM HORNISH JR. (No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge Challenger R/T) Race Winner

“I don’t know how to quite do this whole victory lane thing on the NASCAR side and standing up on the side of the car so I had to jump back up there to get another picture. Chad Walter (crew chief) made a great call bringing me down for two. We felt like we were really good getting going but we didn’t have long run security but two tires might help us turn a little better and boy did it ever. I’ve just got to thank all the guys on the Alliance Truck Parts team and also Penske Racing. They’re giving me good race cars. It’s been an up and down year and we felt like we were close a couple of times and to be able to come and kind of sneak one today even though we did have four restarts there towards the end. I’m just super-thrilled about it.”

WHERE DOES THIS WIN RANK IN YOUR CAREEER?

“I won so much over there (Indy car racing) that I didn’t know how much to appreciate it at the time. I came over here and I wanted the challenge of racing these cars because it was the next step. It was something new, it was something that motivated me again. There was many times where I shook my head and go ‘Why did I do this?’ But I did know that I would always regret not trying it so I’m just really, really excited that we were able to keep going. It ranks right up there. My next goal is I want to run for a championship next year and get the funding to be able to do that and then obviously how to figure out how to win a Spring Cup race.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE A NASCAR DRIVER NOW?

“I feel like I’m a lot closer. I feel like a lot of the other drivers may have questioned that at times but then when they saw me stick with it and run a part-time schedule this year because this is where I wanted to be. I want to be successful over here and not knocking Indy car in any way, shape or form. I’m just super-excited about this opportunity. I feel like I’ve been a NASCAR driver for a while but I didn’t have that win checked off there. We’ve got one down and we’ll keep working at it some more.”

ARE WE GOING TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR?

“We’re hoping so. We’re not full-time yet. We don’t have it all signed up yet but we want to be, we want to run for championship. We feel like we’re getting closer. Today probably helped us out a little bit.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI (No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T) Finished Second

“Very good run. Just had to be smart, had to be there at the end. We saw a lot of wrecks today, a lot of action. I told somebody, they asked me how they thought this race would play out and I thought it’s either going to be one of the best races of the year or one of the worst and it ended up being one of the best. Really, really happy with how the race track turned out. I think we saw a lot of passing and a lot of action and all in all just a lot of fun.”

COMMENT ON THE LINE THAT YOU WERE RUNNING OFF TURN 2 AND DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH.

“Well, if you pave it, I’ll use it (smiles). And they paved it so I’ll use it. You know it was kind of fun. I think I might have a concussion from running down there the way it beats your head up against the headrest. I’ll take an Advil tonight be just fine so it was a good run.”

HOW ABOUT YOUR TEAMMATED SAM HORNISH JR. GOING TO VICTORY LANE?

“Man, that sure is great. Sam has paid a lot of dues in NASCAR and it’s great to see him get some success out of it. This is like his third or fourth year. That Nationwide team with Chad Walter and Alliance Truck Parts and him, they’re going to be tough to beat next year if they can run for the championship. I hope RP (Roger Penske) can put that together. He’d be the favorite if he can run he did today.”

YOU HAD A GREAT RUN TODAY.

“We had a great Discount Tire Dodge Challenger and made our way through the field there and just ran a smart race. Great pit stops and great teamwork to finish 1-2 for Penske Racing.

HOW WAS THE TRACK?

>“It’s really gripping up and a lot of fun. I’m excited about the race tomorrow.”

WAS THERE MORE GRIP WHEN YOU CUT ACROSS THE APRON THE BACKSTRETCH?

“It is shorter (laughs). And you’re supposed to go the shortest way around, right?

HORNISH PRESS CONFERENCE

SAM HORNISH JR. (No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge Challenger R/T)

“We had a good day. We had a good car. It’s been a great day. We had a good car starting out the race. We hung out fifth or sixth-place and eventually came down and decided to go for two tires. I don’t know what else he changed but that thing turned so much better than what we had. Man, I’m so happy about it. I came out here and I saw the new race track and I’m like ‘I don’t know’ but I love it now. It’s been a lot of fun. Phoenix has always been one of my favorite places. I started my first Nationwide race here, my first Cup race here, won my first Indy car race here and won my first Nationwide race.

We’ve got some more work to do, obviously, but I feel blessed to be here and drive this Alliance Truck Parts Dodge. I’m thankful for all of our supporters at Penske Racing and also Nationwide for what they do, Shell/Pennzoil, and most importantly Roger (Penske) for keeping me in the car. We had a partial schedule and this year. He gave us the opportunity to come out here and run once in a while. We felt like there were a couple of other times this year we had an opportunity to win so it feel great to win. We’ll just keep working.”

ROGER PENSKE (Founder and Chairman, Penske Corporation)

TALK ABOUT THE LAST YEAR FOR PENSKE RACING IN NATIONWIDE.

“Well I feel for Sam. He’s been real humble for the last 12-18 months, coming off being an Indy 500 winner, coming over here and aspirations to run up out front. Maybe I made a mistake putting him at the top when he couldn’t practice but the two of us decided to stay together. I’ve got to thank Chad (Walter, Crew Chief) and obviously Sam because a lot of the success we’ve had on the Cup side has been because these guys have been doing all the testing. I think this sets up for what we want to do next year. Obviously our goal is to run for the championship in Nationwide with Sam next year. Alliance is our partner and Chad the crew chief and this is a great win for us. Both of the cars running one-two is pretty special because there’s real competition out there today and to run here on a new track is exceptional. I just want to thank Sam. I remember when we raced here when we went back in Indy and Sam whipped us here with that yellow Pennzoil car. I’ll never forget that. This is a special place for us.”

CHAD WALTER (Crew Chief, No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge Challenger R/T

“Somebody asked me earlier, this is a real special one because coming off a full Nationwide schedule for two seasons and not quite being able to put all the pieces together and back that up for a full season was a little disappointing, a little disheartening. I manned-up and got over it, and we went out and did the work that we were asked to do. I think that week in and week out helps and this is a big accomplishment to come in here and race hard, race smart; not necessarily have the best race car for 100, 150 laps but not take yourself out of position to maybe get back in there and give it a shot.

He raced probably one of the best in the business right now in his teammate Brad Keselowski. Had a good restart against the 20 and the 6 and the guys who are week in and week out regulars. We beat ‘em. We beat the pants off ‘em. This guy, and I’ve said this before about him, we come in here and do this week in and week out, we don’t have to win every race. It’d be nice but it’s not probable but we can come in here and be competitive week in and week out we’re looking at a good future at Penske racing.”

PENSKE: DID YOU EVER DOUBT THAT SAM WOULD WIN IN NASCAR?

“Well we won in NASCAR. We won the all-star race at Charlotte, what, three years ago I guess it was. So we had a win there. I said to him that we’re going to put this together one way or another. I think what Chad talked about having to step back, and to do the work they did to keep the team going and literally piece it together and this is a byproduct of hard work and commitment. You’re going to see a lot of Hornish in the winner’s circle in the future.”

HORNISH:

I don’t know if I was always as optimistic as Roger is but Roger told me to keep my head down and don’t beat myself. I look back at 2008 and felt like I had a great opportunity in 2008, coming over and running and what happened that year was I’d been so accustomed to being first all the time that when I came over I didn’t how to take a 15th. Two 15ths beat a first and a 43rd. It took me a while to be able to get back there and plus you race every weekend and this year has been something to think about. I want to run every lap that I can possibly run out there and Roger told me after last week’s race at Texas that we had a car that could win.

We just had a bad set of tires that just didn’t fit our car quite right and we went back to like 12th or 13th. We got back up to seventh and Roger told me I was my own worst critic. You just have to do the best that you can and continue to move forward. I’m glad that I stuck it out. This is what want. I came over here not because there was more money or anything like that. It was because I got an opportunity. I was interested in it, I got an opportunity to run some Nationwide races throughout 2007, and after doing that I got to see that there was something different out there to challenge me again. Was it the challenge I thought it was? Heck yeah it was. It was a big challenge for sure. I don’t think I ever got to a point where I didn’t feel like if I kept my head down and I put myself in the right position I was going to win.”

COMMENT ON YOUR EMOTIONS AFTER THE CHECKERED FLAG AND ON THE COOL DOWN LAP.

“It went a lot easier for me than I thought it was going to. The cool down lap was great and even coming down pit road because there was a lot of guys that were excited. One of the toughest things was, running the Dan Wheldon visor strip, he ran his first two races at Panther as my teammate. I wouldn’t say that we were the best of friends but we raced the heck out of each other quite a bit. We actually tied for the 2006 championship. He’s somebody I’ll miss racing quite a bit.”

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU’VE BEEN THIS EMOTIONAL?

“I’ve been pretty emotional at times. I feel like there’s a lot of good days. Today is great but tomorrow is going to be even better ‘cause I’m going to see my little girl for the first time in a week-and-a-half. Two weeks ago I was getting my little girl ready for bed and I couldn’t take my eyes off her and she turned to me and said she told me ‘I’m complicated.’”

- Darnell Communications Press Release

(10/25/11) Update on Team Penske Driver Will Power

Press Release — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:26:41 +0000

Will Power - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor: Paul Powell
Team Penske IZOD IndyCar Series driver Will Power underwent further testing in Indianapolis on Monday for a back injury suffered in a multi-car accident during the series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 16.

After experiencing pain in his upper back following the tragic accident that ultimately claimed the life of driver Dan Wheldon, Power was evaluated and released from University Medical Center in Las Vegas on the evening of the crash with no evidence of significant injuries.

On Monday, however, it was determined by series orthopedic specialist Dr. Terry Trammell that Power suffered a compression fracture of his fourth thoracic vertebra in the accident. Dr. Trammell expects Power to recover from the injury with rest and rehabilitation.

Trammell will consult further with Power in the coming days to determine the next steps in his recovery. Power hopes to be able to continue testing the 2012 IndyCar in the coming weeks and he is expected to be fully healed and ready to compete for Verizon Team Penske in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series.

- Team Penske, Press Release

Heavy Heart Propels Max Papis To Top-10 Finish In Talladega

Press Release — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:08:19 +0000

No. 9 GEICO Toyota Tundra (Max Papis) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR
Talladega, AL (October 22, 2011) – Max Papis traveled to Talladega this weekend with a heavy heart and mind. A week removed from watching his friend Dan Wheldon lose his life in a 15-car crash in the Las Vegas IndyCar race, he spent the bulk of his week reflecting on the driver for whom he had such great respect. Talladega offered Papis the opportunity to honor his friend by turning in a performance worthy of Wheldon’s approval.

Papis and his #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra took to the high banks of Talladega on Friday morning and quickly shot to the top of the speed charts, landing 12th on the board by the close of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ sole practice session. He would later take to the legendary superspeedway for qualifying, pacing the 2.66-mile tri-oval in just 55.240 seconds, at a rate of speed of 173.353 miles per hour. His effort would be good enough for a 23rd starting position for Saturday’s Coca-Cola 250 powered by fred’s.

Talladega Superspeedway welcomed the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with blue skies, perfect temperatures and a large crowd. Papis’ #9 GEICO Tundra carried a special decal to honor Dan Wheldon, Wheldon’s wife Susie and their two sons Sebastian and Oliver. Papis gracefully strolled down pit road and seemed at peace as he thought of his IndyCar friends who were in attendance at Wheldon’s funeral in St. Petersburg on Saturday morning. Papis’ heart undoubtedly was with his friends at the funeral, but he knew that if Wheldon were with us today, he would demand that Papis strap into his #9 Tundra and go racing.

With Wheldon on his heart and on his truck, Papis took the green flag and settled in for what would be one of the most exciting races of the 2011 Truck Series season. Starting 23rd, Papis would initially drop two spots to 25th on the opening lap. But just two laps later, he recovered three positions and moved the #9 GEICO Tundra into the 22nd position.

Papis would move as high as 11th on lap five before the event’s first caution flag of the day was displayed on lap 12. Papis took the opportunity to visit pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires and a full tank of Sunoco racing fuel.

The green flag once again turned the field loose on lap 17. After coming down pit road in the 14th position, the Germain Racing pit crew produced a quick stop and allowed Papis to restart the race from the 10th spot, netting four positions on pit road. Once Papis arrived in the Top 10, it seemed as though he drove a stake in the ground and refused to leave.

Aside from dropping to 11th for a single lap on lap 33, Papis and the #9 GEICO Tundra ran solidly in the Top 10 for the entire afternoon. Lap 54 saw him enter the Top 5 when he moved into the 5th position. After a caution on lap 59, Papis restarted in the 6th position, but before a single lap was logged, he moved the GEICO Tundra into 3rd.

Throughout the afternoon, crew chief Randy Goss would exchange thoughts on strategy with Papis and the pair collectively devised a plan that would keep the #9 GEICO Tundra at the front of the field. Papis never wavered from the plan and sounded calm and collected on the team’s radio frequency.

As the race began to wind down, Papis was riding in the 7th position when the #84 truck of Chris Fontaine found the wall on the backstretch with just ten laps remaining in the race. With just six laps left in the advertised distance, Papis restarted the race from the 6th position before another caution flag immediately slowed the field. He managed his time wisely, notching two positions and moving up to fourth before the yellow came out.

Only three laps remained when the Truck Series field took the final green flag of the afternoon. Although Papis restarted in the 4th position, he was left without a dance partner and the #9 GEICO Tundra would be hung out to dry. Despite having to survive the final three laps on his own, Papis battled hard and managed a 10th place finish, recording his second Top 10 finish of the 2011 season.

Max Papis - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR
“That was a lot of fun today and the GEICO team did a great job of keeping me up front,” Papis said with his trademark smile. “And today we earned it because we did it without a lot of help. Randy (Goss, crew chief) and I decided to stick to our plan and it worked. I’m very happy I was able to keep the #9 GEICO Tundra up front all day. Thanks also to my Germain Racing pit crew who did a great job of getting me out of the pits quickly. On that last restart we were riding fourth and I thought we might have a shot at the win.”

He continued, “It was hard to be here today knowing that many of my friends were in St. Petersburg for the funeral of Dan Wheldon. But, I know if Dan could talk to me he would tell me to get my butt in the truck and go race. I hope I made him proud today.”

Next week, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Martinsville Speedway, the site of Papis’ first Top 10 finish of the 2011 season.

Papis and the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra will hit the 1/2-mile paperclip-shaped oval for the opening practice session on Friday, October 28th, at 11:00 AM (ET). Qualifying will follow on Saturday, October 29th, at 10:40 AM (ET).

The Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is on Saturday, October 29th, and it will be televised live on SPEED beginning at 2:00 PM (ET). The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

Please visit the Max Papis Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/maxpapisracing

- Player Management International, Inc. Press Release

Worlds of Sports and Entertainment Join Forces to Create Dan Wheldon Memorial Auction

Press Release — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:56:48 +0000

INDYCAR Logo
Graham Rahal didn’t know what he was starting when he offered to auction the race-used helmet, gloves and shoes he used in Las Vegas to raise money for the family of the late Dan Wheldon.

Rahal’s gesture began an outpouring of support from celebrities and athletes around the world who wanted to donate memorabilia to raise money for the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund.

“I certainly appreciate everyone’s support for Dan’s Memorial Auction,” said Rahal, who recently completed his first season with Chip Ganassi Racing. “I never thought when I tweeted about auctioning my helmet that we would get this kind of reaction.”

Among the items already offered up for auction are:

· Graham Rahal’s Las Vegas-worn helmet, gloves and shoes

· Original Bobby Rahal race-worn helmet

· Race worn items from INDYCAR drivers such as Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Simona De Silvestro, Oriol Servia, James Hinchcliffe and Charlie Kimball; NASCAR drivers such as Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Max Papis; Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello and NHRA stars Brandon Bernstein, Cory McLenathan, Antron Brown and Ron Capps.

· #77 Dan Wheldon Indianapolis Colts jersey signed by Colts players

· Signed Indiana Pacers jerseys from Larry Bird and Clark Kellogg

· Ritmo Mundo INDYCAR rose gold timepieces.

· Memorabilia from Tour de France winning cyclist Lance Armstrong, MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden, NBA star Dwight Howard, tennis legend Billie Jean King, actors Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett and professional surfer Kelly Slater

· VIP Package for any of the Barrett Jackson Auctions, tires from Service Central and all of their partners

· INDYCAR Experience Two-Seater ride around Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

· Two-seat Grand-Am Daytona Prototype ride from Mike Shank Racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

· NFL helmet signed by Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Deion Saunders.

· New York Giants helmet signed by Eli Manning

· NFL jersey signed by Roger Staubach, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Warren Moon, and Harry Carson.

· Limited-edition Colt handgun with serial number “98INDY500″ and two custom Colt Indianapolis 500 rifles.

Auctions for donated items will begin on Monday, Oct. 24 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund.

The auction will be run by online auction site eBay, which has waived all fees, and Auction Cause, a Los Angeles-based auction management agency specializing in high profile corporate, celebrity, and nonprofit eBay auction events.

A link to the auction site will available through www.DanWheldonMemorial.com, the memorial website set up by GoDaddy.com, which includes a Facebook link to leave condolences and remembrances, a career photo retrospective and details on how fans can donate to either the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association, a cause near to Dan Wheldon.

- INDYCAR, Press Release

TRG Motorsports Fielding Two Cars in Talladega and Honoring Dan Wheldon

Press Release — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:47:57 +0000

TRG Motorsports
(October 20, 2011) Mooresville, N.C. - TRG Motorsports will once again be fielding two entries in this Sunday’s Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Andy Lally will race the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Ford Fusion while T.J. Bell will attempt to qualify the No. 77 TRG Motorsports entry into the race.

On the track, Lally, who finished 19th in the spring race at Talladega, is looking forward to returning to the venue in which he earned his best finish this season.

“Restrictor plate racing isn’t something I have a ton of experience with, but it is some of the most fun and exciting racing I’ve ever done. We had our best run of the season here earlier this year and had a tremendous qualifying effort at Daytona in July. I have a lot of faith in our restrictor plate program and am looking for a solid run this weekend. It would be awesome to have T.J. qualify his way into the race so that I can have a drafting partner heading into the race.”

Bell will be seeking to make his fifth Sprint Cup Series start of 2011 on Sunday. The Nevada native holds one career top-10 finish in three career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Talladega.

“I’m happy to be here racing with TRG Motorsports this weekend. They are a really great group of guys that have put together a phenomenal program. I saw what they’ve done at the restrictor plate tracks this season and it was a pretty easy decision that this was the seat to be in this weekend. It’s with mixed emotions that we’re honoring Dan Wheldon on our No. 77 car this weekend. His loss is tragic, but I am more than honored to celebrate his life on my car this weekend” says Bell.

Wheldon was driving a car numbered 77 when last weekend’s tragedy occurred. His name will adorn the namerail of Bell’s entry.

Andy Lally further commented saying, “I’ve known Dan since 1998 and met him the first week he moved to the United States. We were competing in the same series back then and I knew he was a winner back in England. He proved the same thing here right away and it was obvious he had a great career ahead of him. He was a huge talent and a good person. I will be one of many people paying tribute to him this weekend. I’ll miss him and keep both Dan and his family in my thoughts.”

The team will be honoring the memory of Dan Wheldon in this Sunday’s Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Wheldon, a former IndyCar Series Champion and Two-Time Indy 500 winner passed away this past Sunday due to injuries sustained while racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Both Lally and Bell raced with Wheldon as they made their way through the racing ranks and will honor his memory this weekend.

The No. 71 team sits in the 35th position of NASCAR’s Owner’s Point Standings with four races to go in the season. The team currently holds a sixteen point margin over 36th.

“We lost a little bit of ground last weekend, but are far from panicking. I have a ton of faith in our program and believe we have everything we need in place to finish in the top-35 for the second year in a row. I’m happy to have Andy and T.J. driving for us this weekend. Both of those guys are tremendous talents who can drive almost anything. Sadly, both of them have a good amount of experience racing with Dan Wheldon and had to deal with the loss of a fellow competitor last weekend. I applaud their efforts to commemorate Sunday’s race to his memory” commented Buckler.

Coverage of the Good Sam Club 500 will begin Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

# # #

TRG is a full-service motorsports company offering a total driver ladder approach. This approach starts with track days, goes to club events, up into street stock series and culminates in the ultimate goal of professional motorsports. With sports car focused facilities in Petaluma, California (Infineon Raceway) and Mooresville, North Carolina, the team can offer turn-key support as well as arrive-and-drive programs.

The company’s NASCAR operations are headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry and has the capacity to run ARCA, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series.

The Racer’s Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing. The team boasts Rolex Series GT championships in 2005 and 2006 and holds the record for the most wins in Grand-Am with 32. The team’s resume is highlighted by five championships, four Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona victories and a Le Mans 24 Hour win.

Detailed team info can be viewed at www.trgmotorsports.com and www.theracersgroup.com.

TRG Motorsports, Press Release

Family of Dan Wheldon Announces Funeral Arrangments; Susie Wheldon Statement

Press Release — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:51:21 +0000

Dan & Susie Wheldon with their two boys
Funeral services for IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon will be held at 10 a.m. (ET), Saturday, Oct. 22, at First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, 701 Beach Drive N.E. in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Wheldon’s wife, Susie, released the following statement on behalf of the family, inviting members of community to attend the service:

“Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days. The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.

“Dan touched the lives of many people, and I would like to invite those citizens in our community who knew and loved my husband to attend his funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg on Saturday, October 22, at 10 a.m.

“Though we won’t be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing. Thank you again. I am forever grateful for your kindness.”

The Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund has been established for the financial security of Wheldon’s family. The public can make contributions to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund at the following address:

Fifth Third Private Bank
Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust
251 North Illinois St.
Suite 1000
Indianapolis, IN 46204

All of Fifth Third Bank’s Indianapolis branches also are accepting contributions in person, which will be routed to the account.

In lieu of flowers, friends and fans also can choose to make a donation to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association, a cause close to his heart.

For more details, visit http://www.alz.org or http://www.danwheldonmemorial.com, a memorial site, which includes a Facebook link to leave condolences and remembrances and a career photo retrospective.

Those wishing to send their sympathy and condolences to the Wheldon family, can address letters to:

The Wheldons
9600 Koger Blvd N, Ste. 105
St Petersburg, FL 33702

INDYCAR will hold a public memorial service to celebrate the life of Wheldon at 4 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Oct. 23, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Doors open to the public at 2:30 p.m. The Virginia Street parking garage will be open free of charge to augment on-street parking.

- INDYCAR, Press Release

Latest Statement From INDYCAR on Dan Wheldon Fatal Accident

Press Release — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:38:58 +0000

INDYCAR Logo
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 19, 2011) - The entire INDYCAR family is saddened by Dan Wheldon’s tragic death, and our thoughts continue to be, first and foremost, with Dan’s wife, Susie, and his entire family at this incredibly difficult time. The safety of our drivers, their crews, INDYCAR staff, racetrack staff and spectators is always our paramount concern.

As part of our standard safety protocol, a full investigation has been launched by INDYCAR, with assistance from individual members of various motorsports bodies. It was incorrect to state that either ACCUS or FIA are formally involved. We hope to have preliminary findings to report within the next several weeks. In the meantime, it would be inappropriate to comment further until the investigative team has had the opportunity to conclude its work.

- INDYCAR, Press Release

Dan Wheldon Memorial Service Scheduled for Oct. 23

Press Release — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:47:02 +0000

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Dan Wheldon Banner Tribute - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor - Paul Powell
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 – INDYCAR will hold a public memorial service to celebrate the life of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, sustained unsurvivable injuries in a racing accident Oct. 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He is survived by his wife, Susie, and two young sons. Wheldon was 33.

The Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund has been established for the financial security of Wheldon’s family. The public can make contributions to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund starting Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the following address:

Fifth Third Private Bank
Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust
251 North Illinois St.
Suite 1000
Indianapolis, IN 46204

More details on how to contribute will be available in the coming days.

A memorial site, which includes a Facebook link to leave condolences and remembrances and a career photo retrospective, can be found at http://www.danwheldonmemorial.com.

- INDYCAR, Press Release

Dakoda Armstrong, No. 98 Ferrellgas / Agrisure / Drive For Savings Chevrolet Silverado Talladega Superspeedway Preview

Press Release — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:48:59 +0000

No. 98 Ferrellgas / Agrisure Viptera / Drive for Savings Chevrolet Silverado
Dakoda Armstrong

Talladega Superspeedway Advance

No. 98 Ferrellgas / Agrisure / Drive For Savings Chevrolet Silverado

Armstrong Not Spooked at Talladega: Though some fellow drivers may have mixed feelings about restrictor plate racing, re-visiting Talladega Superspeedway is a thrill for Dakoda Armstrong. With roots in open wheel racing on short tracks, competing on the enormous 2.66-mile oval is a whole new world for the 20-year-old rookie driver, who won his first ever contest at the track in the ARCA Racing Series in 2010. As the site of his first stock car victory, Talladega will always hold a special place in Armstrong’s heart. He’ll be the first person to tell you however, it’s a giant chess game out there.

“I grew up watching races at Talladega as a child so the excitement of getting to run at such a prestigious track is a thrill for me, but you never know what to expect during a restrictor plate race. It’s pretty hard to have any kind of strategy because really anything goes once you get out there,” Armstrong explained.

“At Talladega it’s just about putting yourself in the right spot at the end because once you’re in the draft; all of the trucks are the same speed. You just have to stay out of trouble and just be there at the end to even have a chance.”

Drive For Savings, Armstrong and the National FFA Convention: Armstrong will be visiting the Drive For Savings booth during the opening day of events at the 84th National FFA Convention on Wednesday, October 19th from 1 to 5 pm. He will be on hand to sign autographs and greet fans next at the Drive For Savings (DFS) display. The area will contain Armstrong’s No. 98 Ferrellgas/Agrisure/Drive For Savings Chevrolet, as well as information about the DFS discount card program that benefits organizations like FFA.

Held each October, the national FFA convention is one of the largest annual student conventions in the country, providing educational sessions, hands-on activities, leadership workshops, information about numerous careers and much more. Drive For Savings, sponsor of Dakoda Armstrong and his No. 98 ThorSport Racing team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), will participate in AutoWorld, an area of the convention career show originated to give students a path who are seeking careers in the automotive, motorsport, and racing industries. AutoWorld spans over an 8,000 square foot section of the show and displays automotive, racing, motorsports and classic industries, combined with technical schools and colleges involved in these respected categories.

Godspeed, Dan Wheldon: All members of the ThorSport Racing family were affected by of Dan Wheldon’s passing in last weekend’s IZOD IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. As a Curb Records teammate, Wheldon was a member of the ThorSport Racing family, and the entire organization will honor him with special decals on all three TSR entries in addition to apparel to be worn by all of the team’s drivers and crew members.

ThorSport Online Store Now Open: Long awaited by all, the ThorSport Racing online store is now open! We encourage everyone to check out our newest addition at http://store.thorsport.com. If you can’t make it out to the new shop in Sandusky, you can now purchase merchandise online.

Chassis History: Armstrong will pilot chassis No. 24 at Talladega this weekend. Prepared by his Ferrellgas/Agrisure/Drive For Savings team, this truck was last seen on track under the direction of Matt Crafton at Daytona in February and finished 10th.

Dakoda Armstrong
Dakoda Armstrong on Talladega Superspeedway

What is your mindset headed into a mentally tough race like Talladega provides?

“The biggest thing is to remind yourself to be patient, especially there, anything can happen because everyone races in a tight pack. You have to be able to last until the final ten laps and that’s when you really start racing hard. To set yourself up for that final run, you need to figure out what other trucks your truck works best with, be calm and not get into any trouble early on.”

Did you have any special strategy that helped you get the ARCA Racing Series win here last year?

“ARCA was a little different than the truck series; you don’t have as many cars all in the same big draft. I tried to stay close to the top ten and waited for the second lane to get moving when it was time to go. It was kind of one of those deals where you help other people out and hope that they help you out. Definitely a chess game.”

Race Info:

October 22, 2011

Talladega Superspeedway

Coca-Cola 250 presented by Fred’s

2.66-mile Tri-oval

94 laps/250 Miles

Broadcast Info:

TV: SPEED- 4:00 pm EST

Radio: MRN- 3:45 pm EST

Team Facts:

Crew Chief: Dan Stillman

Chassis: 24

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR)

Dakoda Armstrong

Career Highlights- Talladega

Starts: 2 (ARCA, 2010-11)

Poles: 1 (2010)

Wins: 1 (2010)

Top 5- 1

Top 10- 1

Laps Led: 42

Avg. Start: 7

Avg. Finish: 7.5

- ThorSport Racing Press Release

Johnny Sauter Hopes For First, Not Last for His ‘Talladega Night’

Press Release — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:23:20 +0000

No. 13 Safe Auto / Curb Records / Carrier Chevrolet Silverado
“IF YA AIN’T FIRST, YOU’RE LAST”: One of two superspeedways on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series circuit, Johnny Sauter arrives in Talladega, Alabama with a focused fire. Sitting second in driver championship points in the NCWTS, he continues in the top three for the nineteenth race week of the season. Sauter has made two appearances in NCWTS at Talladega, in 2009 and 2010 – with his best start in eighth position in 2010 and finish in third that same appearance. Sauter, like many other drivers, either loves or “hates” the superspeedways due to their high level of chance and luck to remain damage-free from “the big one.” He looks to make his first appearance in Victory Lane ever at a superspeedway and to continue his hot streak in the NCWTS.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO A CURB RECORDS TEAMMATE: The 13 team will pay homage to Curb Records teammate in the Izod IndyCar Series, Dan Wheldon, who tragically passed away during the last race of the season in Las Vegas. Team thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this time.

NOT JUST BROWNIE POINTS ANYMORE: Sauter has led the championship points for ten weeks this season, but he largely relishes his “underdog” status in the second spot. Five points out with four races to go, the 13 and its veteran driver know that cooler heads will prevail and strategy plays out in a superspeedway race. Look to find Sauter partnering in the two-car tandem with teammate and points pro Matt Crafton for potential success at Talladega.

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 13 team will utilize chassis No. 025 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. A proven superspeedway chassis for the team, it brought a successful podium finish at Talladega last year. Its last appearance was in Daytona at the beginning of the season, where Sauter finished seventeenth after a rough ride and historical set of cautions and incidents left him in the back of the pack.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Sauter drove the No. 13 home to a solid fourth place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after starting in the same spot for the day. Not only did the successful appearance deliver another top five for the driver, it also earned him the Exide Start Positive, Stay Positive award once again in 2011. He also left Las Vegas in the second place points position heading to Talladega.

Johnny Sauter
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Johnny Sauter

Love to hate Talladega? Or do you enjoy it?

“Talladega is a great type of racing – all racing is, but superspeedway racing is different. And Talladega really is different from Daytona. Unfortunately, there’s typically a 60% chance you are going to wreck and that’s not fun. So it’s gotten a bad rap over time, and I’ve certainly been a part of a few of those wrecks before in my day.”

At this point, in a close points battle – is this fun for you, or a job?

“Anybody that is having success in a job is usually having a good time. I’m definitely having a good time right now, and it’s a lot of fun. I’m doing what I love to do, which is race. I can get pretty intense, but at the end of the day, if you’re not having fun, you’re making everyone else around you miserable.”

How does it feel to see the championship in the crosshairs? Do you have a strategy at this point?

“Joe and I never talk or have strategy – for as strange as that sounds. We grew up racers, and our mentality is to win or at least try to every week. The rest just takes care of itself when you do that. So for the next four races, we’re still about winning. The championship part just takes care of itself.”

Safe Auto / Curb / Carrier Chevrolet Silverado

Race Info:

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

Talladega Superspeedway

2.66-Mile Tri-Oval

Coca-Cola 250 Presented by Fred’s

94 laps/250 Miles

Broadcast Info:

TV: SPEED will broadcast live at 3:30pm EST

Radio: MRN & Sirius XM NASCAR Radio will broadcast live at 3:00pm EST

Team Facts:

Current Point Standings: 2nd (-5)

Crew Chief: Joe Shear, Jr.

Chassis: 025

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR)

Johnny Sauter NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results at Talladega Superspeedway:

Starts: 2

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

Top 5: 1

Average Start: 12 (best p8)

Average Finish: 10 (best p3)

- ThorSport Racing Press Release

Dan Wheldon Memorial Website Launched

Press Release — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:23:38 +0000

Dan Wheldon - Photo Credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images
GoDaddy.com has created a memorial website in honor of Dan Wheldon.

The memorial site, which includes a Facebook link to leave condolences and remembrances and a career photo retrospective, can be found at http://www.danwheldonmemorial.com/

Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, was killed in a race crash Oct. 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He is survived by his wife, Susie, and two young sons. Wheldon was 33.

INDYCAR will pay tribute to Wheldon with a public memorial service in the near future in Indianapolis. Further details on the service and how the public can make memorial contributions will be forthcoming.

- INDYCAR, Press Release

Various Statements from Across the World of Auto Racing on the Death of Dan Wheldon

Press Release — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:26:55 +0000

2011 Indy 500 Winner Dan Wheldon the Day After - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor: Paul Powell
The following statements are about driver Dan Wheldon, who suffered fatal injuries in a crash during the IndyCar Series season finale Oct. 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

Milka Duno:

“Dan was more than a competitor to me – he was friend and an inspiration to me as a race car driver. Before we competed together in IndyCar we raced together as teammates at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and he had so much positive energy and he was very kind and supportive to me and my racing career. It was easy for anyone who met him or raced with him to see how truly gifted he was. Racing has lost a great man and and a great race car driver – it will be a loss felt for many, many years to come. My heart and prayers go to his family.”

Panther Pays Tribute to Dan Wheldon – Legend, Champion and Friend:

Panther would like to send its deepest condolences and respects to family and friends of Dan Wheldon, and more specifically to his wife Susie and their children Sebastian and Oliver. Dan is an IndyCar legend, a Champion, a friend, and one of the greatest ambassadors in the history of open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500.

Since making his IndyCar Series debut with Panther in 2002, and subsequently returning for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Dan was an unbelievable representative of our team and partners. The passion and commitment that Dan showed to Soldiers of the National Guard, and Cadets in its Youth ChalleNGe program, and fans of this sport, is what set him apart. In our experience we cannot recall one instance where Dan said no to an autograph request, bypassed a photo request, or left an appearance without assuranceseverybody there who wanted to meet him had done so.

He was a special talent, a better person, and had a positive impact in the lives of so many in the sport. While Dan’s on-track success speaks for itself, it’s the professionalism, humor and spirit he showed outside the racecar that set him a cut above the rest. He will be missed, but always remembered.

Eric Bachelart, Team Owner, Conquest Racing:

“I’ve known Dan since he first came to the USA and like a lot of other people I had a great connection with him. Dan represented the true IndyCar driver spirit, always available and positive, he was a great talent, a great friend, and a great family man. I would like to send my deepest condolences to his family.

It’s hard to accept what happened yesterday, we all know it’s a dangerous sport but we need to work together to make sure that this never happens again.”

Driver Sebastian Saavedra, No. 34 Conquest Racing:

“We lost not only an amazing driver, we lost a great father, friend and a very honorable person. It’s very hard to believe this is possible and sometimes we forget how dangerous what we do is. But we will never forget how much he loved racing and the adrenaline this sport gave him.

We will miss him incredibly for his unique smile, sense of being and how friendly he was to all, but we will never forget him in any sense of the word.

May he rest in peace and may his family accept this great loss with cherish.

We love you Dan.”

TOM COMPTON, PRESIDENT, NHRA:

“The world of motorsports and everyone at NHRA is deeply affected by yesterday’s tragedy in Las Vegas involving Dan Wheldon. On behalf of the entire NHRA family, our hearts and prayers go out to the Wheldon family and the entire IndyCar racing community. We are truly saddened by this tragic loss of such a great champion and person.”

Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing:

“All of us at Richard Childress Racing are saddened by the loss of Dan Wheldon. Dan was a fierce competitor and a great champion. I had the pleasure of meeting him over the past couple of years and quickly realized what a great ambassador he was for our entire sport. Our prayers and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.”

St.Vincent Sports Performance Executive Director, Ralph Reiff:

“Dan chose to be a good guy. He made parenting of his sons, Sebastian and Oliver his priority. Dan made us all better at our craft by pushing us to make him a better athlete. Dan has made us better people by modeling a courageous and kind life.”

Colin Dyne, CEO, William Rast:

“As we struggle to process this devastating news, my heart and soul reach out to Dan’s wife Susie, his two boys and the rest of his family. He was a true champion who had the unique quality of making everyone around him feel like a winner. Not only a hero, but also a great friend, we are honored to have counted Dan as part of the William Rast family. We will surely miss our friend and never forget what he gave to all of us.”

GP Sports Management:

GP Sports Management is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our dear friend and client, Dan Wheldon.

Dan was a winner. For the past 11 years we were privileged to watch Dan become a champion on the track and a devoted family man off it. He loved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was immensely proud to have his name etched twice on the Borg Warner trophy alongside some of the Indy 500 greats.

He touched so many people in racing and around the world with his warm smile, his charming personality and his genuine good nature. Dan loved his fans and always took that extra bit of time to take a photo, to sign an autograph, to make some young kid smile at the racetrack. Everyone wanted to be around Dan. His passion and his enthusiasm for life was infectious. We will all miss him…

A true champion of motorsport…

A proud brother to Austin, Ashley, Elliott and Holly…

A devoted son to Clive and Sue…

A loving husband to Susie…

A doting father to his boys, Sebastian and Oliver…

And our friend…

Rest in peace Dan…your memory will live with us forever.

We would like to thank everyone for all of the messages of condolences that we have received and right now our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Wheldon family.

Bryan Herta, Team Co-Owner:

“Everyone at Bryan Herta Autosport is reeling from the loss of our friend and teammate Dan Wheldon. Dan was the glue that bound our little team together. It was his spark and belief in us that carried us all toVictory Lane at Indianapolis this year, and his legacy within the sport as a tremendous champion and competitor is unquestioned. But more than that, Dan became my little brother from our time together as teammates at AGR. I watched with pride as he developed from the brash young hotshot on the circuit to a man who was a great husband and father, ambassador, friend, champion and hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with Susie and the boys, and all of Dan’s family and fans who are trying to make sense of this terrible loss. We are all lucky and blessed to have had Dan Wheldon influence our lives, and his spirit lives on in each one of us. Godspeed my friend.”

ROGER PENSKE (owner, Penske Racing):

“Today was a sad day for IndyCar and the IndyCar family. Dan was a champion, a wonderful young man and a terrific competitor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Susie, his children and his entire family.”

HELIO CASTRONEVES (Team Penske; three-time Indianapolis 500 winner):

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan Wheldon’s family – what happened today was terrible. It is hard to put into words how sad this is for all us of here. On the track we compete but at the end of the day we are like a big family and today we lost a part of that. I think that the series made a good call to end the race and have the parade laps to honor the life of our fellow driver.”

RYAN BRISCOE (Team Penske):

“My thoughts are with Dan’s family right now. He has been a good friend and a great competitor for many years and I’m greatly saddened by his loss. I do applaud the decision made by the series to call the race and line the cars up for a few parade laps in Dan’s memory. It is truly a sad day for all of us.”

WILL POWER (Team Penske):

“What a tragic loss. I’m devastated that we lost Dan Wheldon today. It was a terrible accident and I feel so bad for Dan’s family. My thoughts and prayers are with them. Dan was great champion and a great guy. He will definitely be missed.”

RANDY BERNARD (CEO, INDYCAR):

“No words can describe my feelings as I reflect on my memories of Dan. His infectious smile, bubbly personality and big heart made Dan one of the most caring people I had ever met. You could never ask for a better ambassador to a sport. Dan represented INDYCAR with the upmost respect and integrity. Dan will not only be immortalized as being a great racer but also a wonderful person. My prayers are with Susie and his two children in this very difficult time.”

CHRIS POWELL (President, Las Vegas Motor Speedway):

“All of us here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are deeply saddened by the death of Dan Wheldon. He was a tremendous race car driver and a great representative for IndyCar racing. Our prayers are with Dan’s family as well as the officials and sponsors of IndyCar.”

BOB PARSONS (CEO & Founder, GoDaddy):

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan Wheldon’s family and friends on this sad, sad day. All of us in the IndyCar family feel an unexplainable sense of loss. Not just for the sport, but for all who knew Dan Wheldon. Dan was a family man, a father, a husband, a son and a brother. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was also a competitor and a colleague … our deepest condolences go out to all who knew Dan.”

JIM MICHAELIAN (President & CEO, Grand Prix Association Of Long Beach):

“On behalf of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach family, our hearts are saddened to hear the news of the passing of Dan Wheldon. He was a great representative of our sport and personified what the IZOD IndyCar Series is all about. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Susie, his children and family. He will be sorely missed.”

DAN MEAD (CEO and President, Verizon Wireless):

“There are no words to express our sorrow over the loss of Dan Wheldon, a beloved member of the racing family. We extend our deepest sympathies to Dan’s wife and family. They are all in our thoughts.”

BOBBY RAHAL (co-owner, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing):

“The passing of Dan Wheldon today is a great shame. Dan was a great driver as evidenced by not only his Indianapolis 500 victories, but by his many wins and great performances in the race car. But he was much more than a great driver. He was a good guy, good family man and really seemed to have a bright future not only as a driver but as a television personality as well. We had spoken to him very recently about his prospects as a driver for 2012 with our team and he was very enthusiastic about his future. He will be missed.”

ALLEN SIRKIN (President, PVH Corp):

“On behalf of everyone at the IZOD brand, our prayers and thoughts are with Dan Wheldon’s family. We are very proud to have worked with Dan and consider him a true friend,” said. “He was one of the best race car drivers in the world and a wonderful ambassador for the sport. Dan’s love of racing was only surpassed by his love and dedication to his family. He will be missed by all.”

Dennis Reinbold, Co-Owner Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:

“Today was a very emotional day. We all lost a friend, and a true champion of the sport. It hurts deeply when something like this happens and our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this time.”

Robbie Buhl, Co-Owner Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:

“Today was an extremely tragic day. There are no words to express our sorrow over the loss of Dan. He was a Champion and few loved the sport as much as him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Wheldon family.”

RICK HUMPHEY (VP of ZOOM Motorsports):

“On behalf of Barber Motorsports Park, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Dan Wheldon. His willingness to help promote the event each year in Birmingham showed us what kind of an ambassador he was for the sport. Dan’s infectious personality will always be remembered and his smile will truly be missed at Barber Motorsports Park.”

JEFF BELSKUS (President and CEO, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp.):

“We are incredibly saddened at the passing of Dan Wheldon. He was a great champion of the Indianapolis 500 and a wonderful ambassador for the race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and all of motorsports. Most importantly, he was a fantastic husband, father and man – a good friend to so many in this sport. His memory will live forever at the Speedway, both through the magnitude of his accomplishments on the track and his magnetism off the track. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his entire family, team and fans.”

Dan Wheldon Wins 2011 Indy 500 - Firestone Racing Photo
From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing:

“The Firestone Racing team is deeply saddened by the death of Dan Wheldon. We have very fond memories of celebrating with Dan at Indianapolis following his win this year, and he was a true champion.

“Recently, we had been working very closely with Dan on the development of the 2012 IndyCar. His passion for the sport was evident every day and he worked endlessly to do the best he could at everything he did. We extend our sympathies to his family, to his team, and to his many friends and fans. He was a talented competitor on the track who will be long remembered by all who had the privilege of working with and knowing him.”

Andretti Autosport:

“It is with extreme sorrow that we have lost one of our champion drivers today. Dan was an Indy 500 champion and IndyCar Series champion with Andretti Autosport-and one of our closest competitors. Dan brought such enthusiasm and passion to the sport not often seen in motorsports. We will remember Dan’s tremendous racing accomplishments with our team as well his infectious personality. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Dan’s family, racing team and friends today. Dan is one of IndyCar’s greatest champions.”

Michigan International Speedway President, Roger Curtis:

“I am saddened for the entire racing community and all race fans. Dan Wheldon was one of the most personable and friendliest drivers I have ever met in this sport. And he was a passionate, talented and exciting driver whose love of racing really showed. But more than that, he loved his family and our thoughts are with them during this very sad time.”

Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren:

“We were saddened to learn of the passing of two-time Kansas Speedway winner Dan Wheldon. Dan exemplified the definition of a champion, both on and off the track. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan’s family, friends and the entire IndyCar Series.”

Sam Schmidt Statement Regarding:

“Dan Wheldon was a tremendous competitor, a great racer and an even better person. It was an honor to have him be a part of our team. All of us at Sam Schmidt Motorsports are deeply saddened by his passing. On behalf of everyone at Sam Schmidt Motorsports, our prayers go out to all of his family, especially his wife, Susie, and their two children.”

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development):

“For everyone in the Honda family, this is a day of tragedy and incalcuable loss. For us, Dan was more than a driver, he was a member of the Honda family. But most of all, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, wife Susie and two young sons. Dan had a passion for motorsports and a wonderful personality that made him a friend to everyone in the racing community. His talent and dedication were an inspiration to us all. We will miss him terribly, and everyone at Honda extends our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and fans across the world.”

Steve Page, President and General manager of Infineon Raceway:

“This is a truly heartbreaking loss. Dan Wheldon was a terrific driver and a great champion, but overall he was one of the most engaging, intelligent and colorful individuals in our sport. We were fortunate to work with Dan as a regular promotional partner over the years. We will miss his competitive drive on the track and his energy and sense of humor in the paddock.”

Oriol Servia, No. 2 Telemundo Dallara/Honda/Firestone, Newman/Haas Racing:

“This is incredibly sad. We all know this is part of the sport. Cars are getting safer, tracks are getting safer so fortunately it hasn’t happened in a long time. 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 and if you give us the opportunity, we are drivers and we try to go to the front — we race each other hard because that’s what we do. We knew if could happen but it’s just really sad. There was no right or wrong thing to do really on how to proceed. It’s the first time ever that we knew that a driver was gone so I think the series did the right thing. Even if you were going to be more careful we were still going to be traveling at a very high speed and in a risky situation. I think Randy’s call was rational. He was saying ‘Listen, you guys are not thinking straight.’ If they had kept us in the car and we still had hope that Dan was going to be okay and they restarted the race sooner you can just focus on what you do. This wasn’t the right way either to finish the race or the season; it feels wrong but there was no right way to deal with the situation. I feel so bad for Susie and their kids. It’s so tough to understand when somebody is gone that quickly. Dan was always a very happy guy; he was always smiling. He was a funny, great person that touched a lot of people. He will be missed.”

James Hinchcliffe, No. 06 Sprott Dallara/Honda/Firestone, Newman/Haas Racing:

“It’s a black day for the sport. We came in here hoping for a good season-finale and ended up losing a very close friend and a very good racing driver. I think Dan was coming into his second wind as a driver. He had so much success early on and he was getting back into that. It’s going to be hard next year to climb into the new cars every time knowing that if it wasn’t for Dan this thing wouldn’t be what it was. He made such an impact on this sport and will even continue to now. It’s proof that this is still a very dangerous sport. As hard as we work on the safety side, these things are still very possible. It’s tough to put into words what everybody is feeling. There was no right answer on how to deal with this situation in terms of the rest of the race. Deep down we all think Dan would have wanted us to race but out of respect for him we made a decision, right or wrong. We’re going to have to regroup over the winter and head into the first race next year and race the whole year for Dan because all I said, the new car that we all are going to be blessed with the opportunity to race, a lot of that is as good as it is because of Dan. My thoughts are with Susie and the kids.”

Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer:

“Along with everyone at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the entire racing community, I am saddened by this news. I offer my condolences to the Wheldon family, especially wife Susie and her two young sons. I had the opportunity to spend time with Dan at promotional events and always came away impressed by his warmth and sincerity.”

Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger:

“We share the sorrow of the IZOD IndyCar Series and motorsports community on the passing of Dan Wheldon. He was a great friend to Kentucky Speedway and recently lent his personality to promoting this season’s 300-mile event at our track by participating in a Macy’s shopping spree with a youth. An exemplary person and competitor will be sorely missed.”

George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN & ABC Sports:

“We are very saddened by the tragic passing of Dan Wheldon. He was a great champion both on and off the racetrack and he will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage:

“On behalf of the entire staff at Texas Motor Speedway, our sincere condolences go out to Dan’s wife Susie and their two young boys, Oliver and Sebastian. Dan was a tremendous race-car driver and even more tremendous as a person. I was fortunate to get to know Dan over the years with the series annually visiting Texas Motor Speedway and he always arrived with that infectious personality and charming wit. His outstanding skill in the cockpit and his personality and good nature out of it will be greatly missed by the entire IndyCar community.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Dan Wheldon:

“I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Wheldon at the National Guard Youth Challenge dinner about five years ago, and we crossed paths several times since then, mostly through our mutual partnership with the National Guard. His success as a racer speaks for itself, but I will remember him as a true professional who was friendly, respectful, and genuine. On behalf of everyone at JR Motorsports, I send condolences to Dan’s family, team, and friends in the racing community.”
“The IndyCar community – drivers, teams, fans – arrived at the track today to compete and celebrate a championship. Instead, we lost one of the sport’s best. Dan Wheldon was a champion on the track and a great ambassador for the sport. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan’s family.

HVM Racing Owner, Keith Wiggins:

It’s in moments like this that you witness the strength of the IndyCar community. Even though we compete against each other week after week, it’s like we’ve lost a member of our own family. We’ll go forward into the 2012 season by reflecting on the great memories we have of Dan Wheldon.”

Dan Wheldon Signing Autographs prior to the Indy 500 - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor: Paul Powell
Chip Ganassi, Team Owner:

“What can you say? He was such a big presence in our sport and quite a talent. Today we lost a little bit of Indycar. He raced here for us for three years, won six races and made many friends – the whole Chip Ganassi Racing organization mourns his passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Susie, the boys and the whole Wheldon family.”

Gregg Steinhafel, Chariman, President and CEO, Target:

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden death of Dan Wheldon, who drove for Target Chip Ganassi Racing from 2006 to 2008. He was a special part of the Target family and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Dan’s family and friends.”

Dario Franchitti, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Driver, No. 10 Target Honda:

“We lost a good friend. Everybody in IndyCar Series considered Dan a friend. He was one of those special, special people from the first moment he showed up in IndyCar. And he was kind of the brash, but he was a charmer. Then he became this loving family guy who was still charming, but he had this whole new side to him. I’m just thinking of Susie and the boys. When I think about them I’m struggling to hold it together.”

Scott Dixon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Driver, No. 9 Target Honda:

“Dan is family and I will miss him badly. Such an amazing person and wonderful family man. We will be with Susie, Sebastian and Oliver for whatever they need. I still can’t believe it.”

Graham Rahal, Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing Driver, No. 38 Service Central Honda:

“My heart goes out to the Wheldon family. Dan was an incredible champion, a great friend and someone I will always respect and admire. We have truly lost one of the greatest members of our INDYCAR family.”

Charlie Kimball, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Driver, No. 83 Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen Honda:

“We lost a special member of our INDYCAR family. Dan was doing exactly what he wanted and died doing what he loved. Our thoughts are with his wife, Susie, and his two children. There are much bigger plans in life than we can ever hope to understand. Dan will be forever missed.”

NASCAR CEO and Chairman, Brian France:

“NASCAR offers its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Dan Wheldon, his teammates, and the entire IndyCar Series community for their tragic loss today. They will be in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.”

Dan Wheldon Fatally Injured at Las Vegas

Press Release — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:17:13 +0000

Dan Wheldon Signing Autographs prior to the Indy 500 - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor: Paul Powell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (October 16) – Sunday’s season-ending IZOD IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was cancelled after a multi-car crash on Lap 11 resulted in fatal injuries for two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon.

Wheldon was one of 15 drivers involved in the collision, which took place in Turn Two, after relatively minor contact between two cars set off a large, chain-reaction crash. Running in the middle of the field, Wheldon’s car went airborne before making heavy impact with the retaining wall and catch fencing. He was airlifted to University Medical Center, where he succumbed from his injuries.

Wheldon was a mainstay of the Honda IndyCar program from his debut in 2003 with Andretti Green Racing. In 134 IndyCar race starts, he won 16 times, and recorded 93 top-10 results. Wheldon won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 2005, going on to win the series championship that year, and won the ‘500’ again earlier this year. He also scored Honda’s first IndyCar victories at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, winning at the Honda-owned circuit in 2004 and again in 2005. In addition to his parents and siblings, Weldon is survived by his wife, Susie, and sons Sebastian and Oliver.

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on the loss of Dan Wheldon: “For everyone in the Honda family, this is a day of tragedy and incalcuable loss. For us, Dan was more than a driver, he was a member of the Honda family. But most of all, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, wife Susie and two young sons. Dan had a passion for motorsports and a wonderful personality that made him a friend to everyone in the racing community. His talent and dedication were an inspiration to us all. We will miss him terribly, and everyone at Honda extends our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and fans across the world.”

- Honda Racing HPD, Press Release

Various Statements from Across the World of Auto Racing on the Passing of Dan Wheldon

Dan Wheldon Dead: IndyCar Driver Dies After 15-Car Crash At Las Vegas Indy 300

Caught in the Catchfence™ — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:06:29 +0000

LAS VEGAS — Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car became ensnared in a fiery 15-car pileup, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2.

The 33-year-old racer was a two-time Indy winner, including this year’s race.

Three other drivers, including championship contender Will Power, were hurt in the pileup during Lap 11. - Full Story at the Huffington Post

Dan Wheldon – 5 Million Reasons To Race; Just One Goal

Press Release — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:53:49 +0000

2011 Indy 500 Winner Dan Wheldon the Day After - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor: Paul Powell
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 12, 2011) – For two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, the week leading up to the Las Vegas Indy 300, part of the IZOD INDYCAR World Championships presented by Honda weekend, is full of potential distractions. There are autograph sessions, fan appearances, sponsor meetings, press conferences, fundraisers, dinners, and the event-within-the-event called the Go Daddy INDYCAR Challenge, where he could win $5 million. But don’t be fooled, Wheldon is focused only on one goal in Las Vegas – winning the final IZOD IndyCar Series race of 2011.

Wheldon will be driving the No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins at Magnolia/William Rast Dallara/Honda/Firestone car, which is co-entered by Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Bryan Herta Autosport with support from Curb-Agajanian, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. It has already proven to be a winning partnership as it was Schmidt and Herta who collaborated in May to provide the car with which Wheldon won his second Indianapolis 500.

Driving that car out of the Schmidt Indy car fleet and entered by Bryan Herta Autosport, Wheldon etched his name in the history books by winning his second Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend. Interestingly, the 100^th Anniversary of the Indy 500 was to be the only IndyCar race on the Emberton, England driver’s 2011 schedule until just a few weeks ago.

In a recent press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard announced that Wheldon had been selected to drive in the $5 million Go Daddy INDYCAR Challenge in Las Vegas in the final IndyCar Series race of the season. As the reigning Indy 500 champion, Wheldon is the only driver eligible to accept the challenge. Wheldon must start the Las Vegas Indy 300 in the last row and then go on to win the race to collect the $5 million prize.

If Wheldon wins, the $5 million Go Daddy prize will be split between Wheldon and one fan who registered through a Verizon Mobile contest.

To prepare for the Go Daddy INDYCAR Challenge, Wheldon was offered the opportunity to drive the No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins at Magnolia car in the IndyCar race at Kentucky Speedway two weekends ago. Though he finished 14^th, he was pleased with the competitiveness of the car and team. It was the same Honda-powered car he’ll race this weekend. It’s also the same car driver Alex Tagliani put on the pole for this year’s Indianapolis 500 and drove to a pole position at Texas in June.

As the consummate professional, Wheldon won’t be distracted by all the activity during the IZOD IndyCar Series’ big championship week in Las Vegas. He’s won the world’s largest race – the Indy 500 – twice, and both times he thrived in all the distractions that swirl around the pressure cooker that is Indy.

When he puts the visor down on his helmet on Sunday, he’ll be focused on one thing – winning. And who doesn’t want to win $5 million in Las Vegas?

Dan Wheldon, Driver of the No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins at Magnolia/William Rast Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Sam Schmidt Motorsports:

What did you enjoy most about getting back in an IZOD IndyCar Series car and racing at Kentucky Speedway?

“For me, it felt extremely good to be back racing in a competitive environment. I shouldn’t say racing in a competitive environment, I should say being in a competitive environment. I’ve been blessed to be involved with testing the next-generation Indy car this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed that program with Bryan Herta Autosport and everybody at the IndyCar Series. But the one thing that lacked, though I’ve been in the racecar an awful lot, which I love, I’m only up against myself. I know testing the car is a very serious responsibility, which I actually do enjoy because of the fact we are developing a new racecar with the team for the series. But, you’re not racing against anybody. So for me to be back and driving the No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins at Magnolia/William Rast car in Kentucky for the Sam Schmidt team was phenomenal. It’s a great team. Obviously, I’m very familiar with the team from the Indianapolis 500, where I worked not only with Bryan Herta but with the Sam Schmidt team, as well. We proved to have a great deal of success. So yes, it was great to be back. The result was not what I wanted, and we’ll be looking to make that right in Vegas. ”

Does the old saying “It’s just like riding a bike,” really apply to driving a racecar at 200 mph?

“Yes, for me it does. I mean, perhaps I haven’t been racing, but I’ve been in the 2012 car a lot, so for me it was very easy to get back up to speed in the current car. I’m probably showing my age a little bit, but I’ve done so many miles in the current car that I feel very at-home in it and very comfortable. Getting back up to speed wasn’t an issue at all.”

You have said you weren’t happy with your Kentucky Speedway car, but what positives did you take with you out of Kentucky?

“I wasn’t happy about finishing 14^th in Kentucky, but the positives I did take away from that race were, for me, it was important to prepare for the Las Vegas race. I hadn’t done any pit stops in a long time, so it was good to get back in the swing of that. Fast in and out laps are very crucial for races like Kentucky and Vegas. So it was good to be doing them again in a race situation. It was also good to just get back up to speed with some of the racing nuances, no matter how much practice you do in a practice kind of environment. You know you just can’t replicate race situations. I think those would be the positives. But, Kentucky has always been one of my stronger tracks and so I was extremely disappointed with the result.”

Do you feel that you and the Sam Schmidt team are close to having a winning package in Vegas?

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t be doing this with Sam Schmidt Motorsports and the No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins at Magnolia car with William Rast if I didn’t feel I was able to win. A lot of the interest that has been generated and the possible opportunities for 2012 for me are purely because I got back in the car and won at the Indianapolis 500. So, there’s no doubt I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think I could win. I was extremely disappointed with the result at Kentucky. For me, coming back, it was extremely important that I did well, and that wasn’t the case. I have every confidence in the team. Honda always supplies very equal engines and, obviously, the Firestone tire is consistent. From that standpoint, it’s down to myself and the team. We know the car has been very fast at Indianapolis, so we’ll definitely try and put together what I feel will be a good package for the Vegas race.”

You’ve said several times that it’s not about the money when you race at this point in your career. But for one fan in Las Vegas, the race will be about the money. Talk about the fact that you have the potential to change somebody’s life by making someone an instant millionaire.

“This is a great opportunity that Randy Bernard and the IndyCar Series have allowed me to participate in with great support from Go Daddy and Verizon. I think this is a fantastic opportunity. Randy didn’t actually pick me, personally. He went to the person who has generated the most media this year. As a result of winning the Indianapolis 500, that happened to be me. To have this opportunity is something I’m extremely proud of. To have the ability to win $2.5 million for me and $2.5 million for a fan is something to get extremely excited about. It’s a lot of money in this economy, right now, and I genuinely think we have a shot. There were obviously other drivers considered for this opportunity but, for Randy, it’s about moving and raising the bar – someone who will move the needle. I feel honored that he feels I will be able to do that. For the other three (drivers), it’s unfortunate circumstances that they couldn’t take part in this event. But I genuinely feel the fans will be really excited because they know I’ve been successful on this type of racetrack. With the SSM team, we will be a genuine threat. It would give me a great deal of satisfaction to share $5 million with a fan. It means an extreme amount to me, and I think it’s going to be a fantastic weekend that will really set the tone for the 2012 IndyCar Series season. This is going to generate a lot of interest among mainstream media. Randy Bernard has some great visions for the series. People are very much behind him because they can see the momentum he is creating and moving the needle, as he says.”

- True Speed Communication for Sam Schmidt Racing, Press Release