Dan Wheldon in the 77 Car
To be perfectly honest, Mark Takahashi and I went to the Indy 300 in Las Vegas for fun. We were going to share our experiences with the good readers of Inside Line via Twitter and pictures we'd later post here, but this was not by any means a traditional reporter's assignment. That of course changed on lap 12.
With our computers back in Los Angeles (we didn't think they'd fit in the NSX any way), yesterday's post was the result of a trip to Kinkos to load a relatively small number of pics, several dozen text messages and a phone call to Mike Magrath.
Now back home, we can share the photos we (but mostly Mark) took on Sunday. If it seems like a shockingly abrupt change from celebration to tragedy, well, that's exactly how it was.
Oriol Servia's car gets checked prior to the race.
This was the last race for the naturally aspirated Honda V8 that powered every IndyCar.
The would-be prize.
The Vegas Speedway provides incredible access for fans in the paddock. There are windows overlooking each garage from above and behind.
The story of this race should've been "Can Will Power overcome Dario Franchitti to win his first championship?"
This was Danica Patrick's final race in Indycar, but that didn't deter her fans from crowding around her for autographs. She also got the biggest ovation during driver introductions.
The press conference for the Indy Lights winners. We were hoping there would've been a repeat of this scene a few hours later ... it was tragically quite different.
There was truly incredible access granted fans for the race, they even get to walk pit lane.
Vitor Meira's team practices tire changing pre race.
Not only could fans walk on pit lane, they got to walk on the track itself for driver introductions. Indycar provides a refreshing up-close-and-personal feel that other major sporting events cannot match. It's like walking onto the field at Fenway Park for batting practice.That's Takahashi doing his thing.
Dario Franchitti walks to the driver introductions through a crowd of fans. As a fan with an infield pass, it would be difficult not to find yourself standing beside a top driver like Franchitti. Or in my case, suddenly realizing that the small elderly man in front of me was Mario Andretti. I cannot emphasize enough how cool this event was at this point, as well as the incredibly upbeat feel.
Tony Kanaan was on the pole for Sunday's race and was leading through lap 12.
Many of the drivers' spouses were in attendance, milling about the pits amongst the crew, media and fans. Mrs. Franchitti is obviously the most easily recognizable -- Ashley Judd.
Dario Franchitti prepares to climb into his car for a chance to win his third-straight championship.
The military flyover provided by nearby Nellis Air Force Base.
And we're underway...
"I was shooting on the pit lane wall when I heard the entire grandstands gasp all at once. They were all looking towards turn 1, but I couldn't see a thing. I turned around to check the big screens and saw the carnage. It seemed like everything went silent." - Mark Takahashi
With the race under red flag, the cars return to pit lane.
Vitor Meira's car post crash.
Will Power's car returns to its garage. Given the horrific manner in which it flew through the air, we were frankly surprised that his car was in this good of shape.
What little is left of the car driven by JR Hildebrand, whose final-turn crash at Indianapolis allowed Dan Wheldon to win.
One can only imagine the emotions of the drivers' wives and families as they anxiously awaited news from the hospital regarding Dan Wheldon. Not only is a small, close-knit community, but each no doubt knew it could've been them at the hospital instead. Ashley Judd sits by herself and checks her phone outside the race control trailer where her husband was meeting with other drivers.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan head into the drivers' meeting.
While the drivers meet, family, friends and fans wait outside. Though official word wouldn't come out for another half hour, Mark and I knew Wheldon had died when a young man wearing a William Rast hat (a Wheldon sponsor) started crying after receiving a message on his Blackberry. Tony Kanaan's wife, below, soon received the same news and was consoled by a member of the ESPN on-screen reporting team. It's a close-knit community to be sure.
The microphones intended for first, second and third place instead awaiting the press conference.
Indycar President Randy Bernard's announcement was short; his voice was shaky.
Tony Kanaan wipes tears from his eyes prior to leading the field on a five-lap salute to Dan Wheldon.
Of the drivers who passed us, most were already in their cars -- Danica Patrick walked slightly ahead by herself. There was a funeral feel to say the least. This is clearly not the way she wanted to end her Indycar career.
Roger Penske walks pit lane behind his team.
An entirely different type of crowd gathers on pit lane as the cars drive past on the first of five laps.
As "Amazing Grace" plays over the loud speakers, crew, friends, fans and media line pit lane in tribute to Dan Wheldon.
Tony Kanaan does his best to answer questions.
Dario Franchitti tries to gather himself before talking with the media alongside Chip Ganassi.
"I've known Dan since he was a little kid. He was a charmer who became this loving family guy. I'm thinking of Susie and the boys. I'm struggling to keep it together." Dario Franchitti
As the sun sets in Las Vegas, the track is vacated without a race won, a champion crowned nor fans cheering.
James Riswick and Mark Takahashi
lmbvette says:
10:04 AM, 10/18/11
Thank you for posting this write-up, I really appreciate how you were able to capture the emotions of each moment in time.
revn says:
10:14 AM, 10/18/11
Very well done, guys. Quite moving.
Man, what a day.
stovt001 says:
12:23 PM, 10/18/11
Thanks for the update. I can second the feeling of going from celebration to tragedy. I started the day prepared to celebrate Power's come from behind victory or sportingly dismiss Mr Judd's clearly orchestrated season, and I never excepted I'd leave the track simply not caring about who won the championship, or Rookie of the Year. I would like to congratulate Frachitti and Hinchcliffe for their accomplishments, and hope that in time that can be properly discussed.
You're absolutely right about the access granted to Indycar fans. The average fan still has to purchase a paddock pass at many events for times outside the autograph session, but I was also able, with the price of my basic ticket, to walk out and touch the yard of bricks at Indy before the race. To give credit where credit is due, Grand-Am might be even better with fan access, but that is a second-tier series. For top tier, Indy is the best. As a side note, this has nothing to do with Indycar's fan access but my wife and I ran into one of our favorite drivers, Simona De Silvestro, while taking a random detour through the Bellagio. You probably haven't heard of her, but she's the other female driver in a green car, the difference being she has talent, charm, personality, grace, courage, and professionalism. For what it's worth, I didn't hear a lot of cheering for Danica in my section during drivers intros. A fair number of boos though...
I'm still baffled how Power's car is in relatively good shape. He flew through the air and crashed as hard as some of the cars that were just destroyed beyond recognition. There are so many variables in a crash like that. I am very thankful for the health and well being of the other drivers involved.
Randy Bernard, in my opinion, has been great for the series and I hate to think of what he's going through right now. So many things contributed to the tragedy, many outside of his control or were a part of the formula before he came onboard. As a fan, it did mean a lot to have him personally deliver the announcement. The new car should be even safer, and I pray wisdom upon RB and the rest of his team to make the right changes going forward.
dm17 says:
03:53 PM, 10/18/11
This is not the time morn Dan Wheldon's death. This is the time to be outraged. We should all demand that all IndyCar executives resig
rayzor says:
03:56 PM, 10/18/11
Dan died doing what he loves; the thrill of the speed. Fast car, fast company; he was living his great dream...
RIP, Dan Wheldon, RIP...
dm17 says:
04:06 PM, 10/18/11
34 Cars - 1.5 Mile High Banked Track - 220 MPH - Indycar executives have blood on their hands. The Indycar drivers have blood on their hands. Many years ago Cart planned to race at a similar track in Texes. After a pratice and quailifying session the drivers refused to race. I'm pissed. Edmunds should be ashamed of the "journalist" who wrote this articale.
skidrive9 says:
04:26 PM, 10/18/11
Excellent article, news is tragic :(
dm17 says:
04:42 PM, 10/18/11
This is NOT tragic, wake up. Death is a part of racing but these cars should NOT have been racing on this track. Just ask the "Captain" Roger Penske. He was at Texas with CART when the drivers refused to race. You have to live with this "Captain" until the day that you die.
dm17 says:
05:34 PM, 10/18/11
IndyCar has just one confirmed race scheduled for 2012. Open wheel racing in the USA will be nothing more then a memory. CART was the best series in the entire history of professional racing. Thank you Tony George, you peice of crap. Do your homework. Texas Motor Speed Way "CART drivers refuse to race".
canddmeyer says:
05:37 PM, 10/18/11
Good article. As one of the few who was watching the television broadcast, I felt the announcers blew it when describing the cause of the multi-car wreck. But it doesn't really matter at this point. For those who didn't get to see it, Dan Wheldon never lifted. There was lots of talk about rookie drivers and a full field, but per the replay and in-car camera, the veteran driver never took his foot off the accelerator.
mce63 says:
06:11 PM, 10/18/11
Thank you for sharing your experiences at the race. This is one of the best articles, albeit unpleasant, that I've read at Edmonds. As you stated, the how or why is not important at this moment. The only thing important is honoring the people involved in the sport that we love.
There will be plenty of time later, after our emotions have settled, to discuss why and what should be done. But I am just a spectator and my opinion is for entertainment at most. Whether I agree or not, I can accept that others will make the decisions about the future of the sport.
stovt001 says:
09:28 PM, 10/18/11
DM17, IICS did two races at TMS this year and they were the most contact-free races this year other than Sonoma. And all I heard before those races was the prediction of a crash-fest. Hindsight is 20-20 and all that, armchair quarterbacking is easy, and so on. I hate TGBB and TG as much as the next Indycar fan, but to think we have all the answers right there before us is more than a little arrogant at this point.
dagmar3 says:
07:26 AM, 10/19/11
Has anyone seen the telemetry from the #77 car? It was a good 4-5 seconds from the time of the initial spin until Wheldon was launched airborne. Did he ever lift or brake? Did his spotter give him a heads up?
120mmgun says:
09:35 AM, 10/19/11
@dm17
Guess you're too young to remember 33 cars - mid 230s mph at Indy in the mid-90s.
Seems to me the nature of "spec" racing where there is little performance differential between the cars, along with aggressive driving, is more to blame than outright speed though slowing the cars down would increase safety. NASCAR learned this, thus the restrictor plates at superspeedways.
sideswiper says:
11:03 PM, 10/19/11
@dm17
You're drunk. Go to sleep.
@IL
Excellent article. Informative, respectful, with excellent photos and imagery.
dm17 says:
01:23 PM, 10/20/11
stovt001 - Just because it didn't happen in the two previous races dosen't mean anything. It did happen. 120mmgun - Indy is a 2.5 mile oval, Texas is a 1.5 mile bull ring. I don't want the cars to be slowed down. They just can't run no these tracks. dagmar3 - He could not slow down and he knew it. He was running flat out and so was the guy right behind him. sideswiper - you are an idiot. Greg Moore died in Fontana and I didn't say a word. Indy cars can't run on a high banked track that was designed for Nascar. The speed did not kill Dan, the track did.