Tragedy struck this weekend's Las Vegas Indy 300, as driver Dan Wheldon, 33, died from injuries sustained in a horrific 15-car crash just 13 laps into the race. Wheldon's car sailed through the air outside turn two and smashed into a wall.
Many of you may not have even heard of Dan Wheldon, probably because the majority of his professional career has been in the States. As a young boy I raced against Daniel for two seasons in the British Cadet Karting Championship and what little I can remember is of an extremely talented and extremely quick young driver. From Emberton, near Milton Keynes, Daniel Wheldon by the age of 12, had claimed his third successive British Cadet Karting Championship. He then moved up to claim a British Junior title, before becoming FIA Formula A World Cup champion in '95. He quickly and sucessfully progressed through the UK single seater formulas, however the limelight was often on another rising star; Jenson Button.
Daniel decided to set his sights on the USA and in 1999, made the move to a country he would grow to love. The new boy from the UK claimed the US Formula Ford 2000 title at the first attempt, and in successive seasons rose the CART ladder by claiming second in the Toyota Atlantic and then Indy Lights championships.
Wheldon's reputation rapidly grew, In 2004 he took his first IndyCar win at Motegi, and the following season he blitzed his way to the IndyCar title and victory in the Indy 500 – the first Englishman to win the race since Graham Hill in 1966.
He married his personal assistant, Susie, in 2008, and together they had two sons, Sebastian (born 2009) and Oliver (born March this year). It is with his family, and his many friends in the world of motorsport, that our thoughts lie at this desperately sad time.
