"It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things."
-Lemony Snicket
As an aspiring journalist, I feel as if I'm supposed to have the words to describe what happened yesterday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I'm supposed to put into words the emotion I felt when we learned, on a day that began with so much hope and excitement, that two time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon had passed away.
As a fan, though, there are no words on this Earth that can describe my grief. There is no expression to expunge my anguish; no quote to negate my sorrow.
I'm utterly and completely heartbroken.
Wheldon was collected in a 15 car crash on lap 11 of Sunday's Indy 300 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
I had been standing in the kitchen when my mother told me a car was on fire. I looked on in horror and ran into the living room as I watched the carnage: cars spinning out of control, two great fireballs, machines flying in the air, debris as far as the eye could see.
Immediately I awaited Marty Reid and company to tell me who was involved. Disappointment filled me when I heard championship contender Will Power was collected- his hopes of a title once again dashed.
My attention immediately turned, though, to the fact that, while they were showing other drivers exiting their cars- Pippa Mann in tears as she was helped to the ambulance, Alex Lloyd climbing out, Jay Howard and more.
But Dan wasn't one of them.
Worry consumed me. I felt immediately that something was wrong. When I realized later that his car had been covered with a tarp and that there was still no word on his condition I began to panic.
I felt in my heart that it was 2001 all over again, but quickly shook the thought away. No, not again I told myself. Not again.
So, like the rest of the motorsports world I waited, and listening to the worried drivers both involved and lucky enough to escape the terrifying wreck.
"Dan's car went over my back wheel and over the top of me. Just a lot of prayers for Dan. There are 20 doctors in there with him," Paul Tracy said outside the infield care center. That was shortly before Wheldon was taken by helicopter to the University of Las Vegas Medical Center. Three other drivers- Power, Mann and J.R. Hildebrand were taken by ground to the same hospital.
Davey Hamilton, who survived a life threatening crash in 2001, was in tears during his TV interview.
Both Dario Franchitti, who won his fourth IndyCar Series Championship on Sunday, and Danica Patrick, completing her final full season in the series, both described hard racing early in the race. Patrick also described the 15 car wreck as "like a movie scene that they were trying to make look as gnarly as possible."
Tony Kanaan, one of Wheldon's best friends, said "A track like this with the power we have is a potential disaster."
He could not have known how right he would be.
Two agonizing hours later, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard announced that Dan Wheldon had died from "unsurvivable injuries" suffered in the wreck. Following the tragic announcement, the cars not involved in the tragic lap 11 wreck did a five lap salute to their fallen competitor. Bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" accompanied them, as the crews lined pit road.
"A little bit of everybody in IndyCar racing died today," former boss Chip Ganassi said.
GP Sports Management, Dan's management company, issued this statement on behalf of Wheldon's family: "They thank everyone for their condolences, messages of sympathy and support at this very sad time. They will make a further statement in due course but in the meantime have asked that they be allowed to grieve in private."
Wheldon won 16 IndyCar races, including the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011, in a 10 year career; he was also the IndyCar champion in 2005. He had signed with his former team Andretti Autosport to drive full time for them, taking over the ride Danica Patrick will leave vacant. Wheldon is survived by his wife of four years, Susie and couple's two children- two year old Sebastian and seven month old Oliver.
A team is without their driver. Fellow drivers are missing their friend. Siblings are missing their brother. Parents are missing their son. A wife is missing her husband. And two little boys will have to grow up without their daddy.
His father in law, Sven Bhem, called said Dan "wasn't just a great driver, but he was a great human being. He was always positive, always had something good to say about everybody."
I was fortunate enough to have met Dan Wheldon, in 2009 while he was driving the National Guard Honda for Panther Racing, and got to experience first hand this most charismatic human being. He couldn't have been more open and friendly- taking the time not just to sign a diecast for me, but also a picture for myself and my mom. Dan talked to us the whole time, asking how we were, if I was having fun. He didn't mind when my mom struggled taking the picture of us (she's not tech savy!) and even laughed about it. It wasn't just like that for me, though- everyone in that autograph line that day, I can assure you, will have the same story. Dan even said goodbye to both my mom and I and thanked us both for coming out. It may seem like a small gesture, but the conversation with Danny absolutely made my day. That is a memory I will forever treasure.
That is what I will remember about Dan Wheldon. He had a smile that lit up a room, and a personality that filled it with warmth. Whether driving or working as a reporter, Danny was devoted to a sport he'd dedicated nearly his entire life to. Dan was a fantastic racecar driver, a superb champion, an exceptional friend, a wonderful husband and an outstanding father. All in all, Daniel Clive Wheldon was a most admirable human being.
As Marty Reid so eloquently said at the end of ABC's broadcast, "People always ask why I sign off with 'Until we meet again.' It's because goodbye is so final. Goodbye, Dan Wheldon."
A memorial website has been set up for Dan Wheldon, which you can visit here. His father, Clive, made a statement on Monday which you can watch here. Enormous thanks to ABC, ESPN, Racing Reference, USA Today, SB Nation, CNN, Queers4Gears, Versus TV, for the quotes, information and statistics used in this piece.
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