Dan Wheldon Dies After Fiery Crash at Las Vegas Indy 300

Dan Wheldon Dies After Fiery Crash at Las Vegas Indy 300

There was shock and sadness in US newspapers and online as writers and fans tried to come to terms with the death of the British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011.

Family matters: Wheldon celebrates with his wife, Susie, and two sons after winning this year's centenary Indy 500.

His vehicle was sent airborne over another car and clipped the fencing surrounding the oval track. IndyCar drivers demanded change after officials confirmed Wheldon's death from "unsurvivable injuries" more than two hours after his car was sent sailing through the air in a fiery wreck that involved 15 of the race's 34 cars.

Caught up in the accident: Wheldon (car No 77) died in this fatal crash on Sunday.

Wheldon had lost his seat this season, but took part in the race as part of a special promotion that might have seen him split a US$5m prize with a fan if he had come from the back of the field to win. Wheldon’s car flew over another vehicle in the pile-up, which left cars shredded and in flames across the racetrack.

Wheldon was a two-time winner of the Indy 500 in 2011.

Wheldon died from injuries shortly after a collision at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2011, at the age of 33. Source Daily Mail