LAS VEGAS -- IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon has died from injuries after his car went sailing through the air during a massive 15-car wreck early in Sunday's Las Vegas Indy 300.
Wheldon was 33. Drivers were told of Wheldon's death in a meeting about two hours after the fiery, smoky crash that many drivers said was the worst they had ever seen.
He won the Indianapolis 500 twice, including this year. Wheldon was injured when his car flew over another during the wreck on Lap 13.
By Jacob Black
A 15-car IndyCar pileup in Las Vegas has ended Will Power's title hopes and halted the season finale after just 12 laps.
The crash was triggered at the front of the field leaving no room or opportunity for anyone to avoid it as the field piled up at more than 220mph (350kmh).
Dan Wheldon has been airlifted to hospital, while Pippa Mann and JR Hildebrand have been taken by road ambulance. No other information is yet available on their condition.
Will Power has back pain and is going to hospital also as a precautionary measure.
The drivers have just been called into a driver's meeting at 8.10am Australian EDT.
Tomas Scheckter tweeted; "Walked past something I pray never to see again."
Newly-crowned 2011 IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti was visibily distressed by the incident when he spoke to media.
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"Within five laps people were starting to crazy stuff. I don't want a part of it. We love hard racing but that's not what that's about," he said.
"You get four wide and you see what happens, someone makes a mistake and that's what happens.
"Right now all I care about is that everyone is ok."
Power's team owner Roger Penske was one of the first people to speak to media.
"Will's ok is the main thing. It's unfortunate but as far as I know the drivers are all ok and that's the main thing," Penske said.
"It's unfortunate to have him knocked out with three crazy accidents."
The crash involved, Will Power, Jr Hildebrand, Tomas Scheckter, Jay Howard, Townsend Bell, Wade Cunningham, Vitor Meira, James JakesCharlie Kimball, Paul Tracy, EJ Viso, Dan Wheldon, Alex LLooyd, Pippa Mann and Buddy Rice.
Reports from the track are that all drivers involved are conscious and alert. WRLTHD Breaking News
By Jacob Black
A 15-car IndyCar pileup in Las Vegas has ended Will Power's title hopes and halted the season finale after just 12 laps.
The crash was triggered at the front of the field leaving no room or opportunity for anyone to avoid it as the field piled up at more than 220mph (350kmh).
Dan Wheldon has been airlifted to hospital, while Pippa Mann and JR Hildebrand have been taken by road ambulance. No other information is yet available on their condition.
Will Power has back pain and is going to hospital also as a precautionary measure.
The drivers have just been called into a driver's meeting at 8.10am Australian EDT.
Tomas Scheckter tweeted; "Walked past something I pray never to see again."
Newly-crowned 2011 IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti was visibily distressed by the incident when he spoke to media.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"Within five laps people were starting to crazy stuff. I don't want a part of it. We love hard racing but that's not what that's about," he said.
"You get four wide and you see what happens, someone makes a mistake and that's what happens.
"Right now all I care about is that everyone is ok."
Power's team owner Roger Penske was one of the first people to speak to media.
"Will's ok is the main thing. It's unfortunate but as far as I know the drivers are all ok and that's the main thing," Penske said.
"It's unfortunate to have him knocked out with three crazy accidents."
The crash involved, Will Power, Jr Hildebrand, Tomas Scheckter, Jay Howard, Townsend Bell, Wade Cunningham, Vitor Meira, James JakesCharlie Kimball, Paul Tracy, EJ Viso, Dan Wheldon, Alex LLooyd, Pippa Mann and Buddy Rice.
Reports from the track are that all drivers involved are conscious and alert.
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