
The crowd at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway witnessed a horrific 15-car crash on Sunday that left driver Dan Wheldon dead from his injuries.
The 33 year-old, two-time champion of the Indy 500 was airlifted to University Medical Center with officials deciding to end the race after the 11th lap pile up.
Drivers wept openly as they took to the course in tribute to Wheldon.
“IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries,” IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race. In honor of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five-lap salute to in his honor.”
The accident seems to have happened when two drivers car wheels touched. A chain reaction among the drivers went into motion and the scene was massive, fiery and confusing.
Wheldon, who started at the back of the 34 car race, flipped his car after it became airborne and hit a fence. Rescue workers arrived quickly but Wheldon’s injuries were severe.
Drivers JR Hildebrand and Pippa Mann were also reportedly hurt and will be in the hospital at least for the night.
“One minute you’re joking around at driver intros. The next, Dan’s gone,” said Dario Franchitti, whose wife, actress Ashley Judd, had to bring him a box of tissues. “I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer.”
Danica Patrick was on the course for the tragedy as this was her farewell to Indy racing.
“There are no words for today,” she tweeted afterwards. “Myself and so many others are devastated. I pray for suzi [Whedon's wife] and the kids that god will give them strength.”
[image: Jeff Daly/WENN]