IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon accepted an offer of $US5 million to compete in the race that was to claim his life in a fiery 15-car pile-up.
The English driver, one of the sport's most popular figures who won the series in 2005, was critically injured when his car flew over another and slammed into the barrier fence early this morning (AEDT).
The crash left the Las Vegas track - which had been criticised by drivers before the event for being unsuitable for Indy racing - littered with stricken vehicles and debris.
Three other drivers, including Australian Will Power, were taken to hospital.
Wheldon, who won this year's Indianapolis 500, had competed in only two events so far this year. But he was lured back to the track by a $US5 million promotion called the Go Daddy IndyCar Challenge, targeted at drivers who did not compete in the series full-time, with the prize purse to be split 50:50 with a lucky fan.
"I am really excited to return in the No.98 entry with [racing teams] SSM and BHA, to follow up our success at this year's Indy 500 and go after another race win, especially with this carrot on the end of the stick," Wheldon said before the race.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/ ... z1azUxFA00
Indy pile up/deaths
Indy pile up/deaths
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Indy pile up/deaths
Here's a still.
Perhaps this wasn't the right venue for Indy car racing.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato