Horror crash kills British racing driver Dan Wheldon

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David Gardner13 April 2012

Tributes were paid today to British racing driver Dan Wheldon, who died after a 15-car crash in Las Vegas.

The father-of-two's car was catapulted over another driver and burst into flames after slamming into fencing at the side of the track during the final race of the American IndyCar championship.

His wife, Susie, and their sons, Sebastian, two, and six-month-old Oliver, were said to be at the
33-year-old's bedside when he died, along with his two brothers and sister.

Wheldon, who was born in Emberton, Buckinghamshire, and attended private Bedford School, was competing for a £3 million prize if he was first past the finishing line after starting at the back of the pack.

The tragedy in the Las Vegas Indy 300 - where cars were being driven at more than 220mph - left the world of motor sport stunned. Scottish driver Dario Franchitti, who was crowned champion after the race was cancelled, said of his win: "I want no part of it."

He added: "I could see within five laps that people were starting to do crazy stuff. Right now I'm numb. I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it's all about.

"We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships and that's what we love to do, what we live for. Days like today, it doesn't really matter. I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in IndyCar considered Dan a friend. Dan was one of those special, special people."

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton said: "This is a tragic loss. Dan was a racer I'd followed throughout my career, as I often followed in his footsteps as we climbed the motorsport ladder in the UK.

"He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500, he was an inspiration and someone that every racing driver looked up to with respect and admiration."

Jenson Button wrote on Twitter: "I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early Nineties, a true fighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy."

While not a household name like Formula One drivers in Britain, Wheldon could still count himself as one of the most successful UK competitors.

After climbing into a go-kart at the age of four, he won eight British titles and then finished third in the 1998 Formula Ford championship in Britain before moving to America.

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