Dan Wheldon 1978-2011

On Sunday, in the IndyCar finale at LVMS, Wheldon was among those involved in a scary multicar wreck that took out 15 of the 34 starters. The two time Indy 500 winner was transferred to a nearby hospital where he was later deceased. Wheldon leaves behind a wife and two children.

Two other injuries that were reported-Pippa Mann with a hand injury and Will Power with back pain.

IndyCar president Randy Bernard, formerly of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), announced the death sometime while Saints-Bucs and Texans-Ravens were in the third quarter.

The wreck happened on lap 13 and it started by contact within two cars. Wheldon was five cars behind and he along with Power begin to go airborne. The fire that arose from the high groove erupted from (I believe) the back of Wheldon's. Wheldon did carry an onboard for the ESPN telecast in the race.  

After the news broke, the race was cancelled and five lap tribute were done by those remaining in the race in his honor. Wheldon was 33.

Wheldon's death was the fourth IndyCar death since the split of 1995. Scott Brayton was killed in Indy 500 practice in 1996. Tony Renna was killed in testing at IMS in 2003. Paul Dana was killed in practice at Homestead-Miami in 2006.