LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- He won the Indianapolis 500 twice, the second time early this year in one of the most improbable finishes in Indy history.
But yesterday, Dan Wheldon could not outrace the racing fates, losing his life in 15 car crash early in the IndyCar Series finale in Las Vegas.
Wheldon was 33.
He is survived by his wife, Susie, and two young sons.
Wheldon did not have a fulltime ride this season, doing a one-off with Bryan Herta Autosports at Indianapolis. He was running second well behind leader J.R. Hildebrand on the last lap when the rookie went wide passing a car in turn four, hitting the wall. Wheldon passed Hildebrand still moving car yards from the finish like for the win.
As the Indy 500 winner, Wheldon was offered the opportunity for a $5 million pay day at Las Vegas. If he won after starting from the rear of the field, he would share that amount with his team and a fan.
As he was moving up through the field early on lap 13, a fiery, multiple car wreck started in front of him coming off turn 2 at the mile-and-a-half, high-banked speedway. With cars scattered all over the racetrack, Wheldon could not avoid other cars and was launched it into several barrel rolls cockpit first into the outside catch-fencing. In announcing Wheldon's death, Indy Car CEO Randy Bernard described his injuries as "unsurvivable."
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. The rest of the race was canceled and the drivers of the cars that were able took five formation laps around the track with Wheldon's number 77 the only one showing on the scoring pylon in tribute.
IndyCar has canceled its season-ending banquet. IndyCar had planned to hold a celebration for the 2011 season Monday night at Mandalay Bay Resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
IndyCar said information on a public memorial for Wheldon will be released at a later date.
Formula One champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have paid tribute to fellow British race car driver.
Button, who raced against Wheldon in karting in the 1990s, tweeted Monday that his compatriot was a "true fighter" and a "legend in our sport but also a great guy."
Hamilton, Button's teammate at McLaren, says Wheldon was "a racer I'd followed throughout my career as I often followed in his footsteps as we climbed the motor sport ladder in the UK. He was an extremely talented driver."
Hamilton says he took inspiration from "a British guy who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500."
Hamilton finished second in Sunday's Korean Grand Prix, with Button fourth.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)
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