In loving memory of Dan Wheldon

On Sunday in Las Vegas was a sad day for all people especially because of the death of racer Dan Wheldon. Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Dan Wheldon was killed in an accident early in the Las Vegas Indy 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday. Wheldon's No. 77 Dallara/Honda was caught up in a 15-car accident that sent the Englishman's car into the catch-fence above the SAFER barrier between Turns 1 and 2 of the high-speed oval raceway and back onto the track in a flaming wreck. Safety crews removed the stricken driver immediately to the racetrack's infield medical center for resuscitation and Wheldon was shortly thereafter transported by helicopter to University of Las Vegas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The accident left the large IndyCar field with only 19 drivable cars and a huge debris field on the racing surface that took over 90 minutes to clear. A sense of dread began to settle in over drivers and crews within minutes of the incident as medical updates on Wheldon's condition failed to arrive from the infield care area. A drivers meeting shortly after 5:30 PM EDT concluded with an announcement from IndyCar Series President Randy Barnard that said, "Dan Wheldon has succumbed to unsurvivable injuries incurred in the accident." after the crash there was a drivers meeting that lasted until 4:00 PM. After a drivers' meeting, IndyCar officials later cancelled the remaining laps of the race out of respect to Wheldon. The remaining drivers and crews gathered on pitlane, many of them openly weeping, and performed a simple five-lap salute to the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion to conclude the race event and weekend.