In Memory of Dan Wheldon a Tribute From the Fans.

This shows how IndyCar is one big family with teams, officials, and fans all included. Copyright:500 Miles.

Dan Wheldon was one special guy to many people. Not only that, but Dan Wheldon was an ambassador for IndyCar, he was family, he represented what this series means to everyone. His death just put a hole in my heart, along with many others around the world. Dan Wheldon died while doing what he loved doing which was just getting into a race car and driving. No man loved the Indianapolis 500 or Open-Wheel racing more than Dan Wheldon did.  

There wasn't a moment that I ever remember seeing Dan without that famous smile on his face. Dan Wheldon always had time for his fans and for his family. There are many times that he would go out of the way just to give regular guys like me an autograph, He treated every fan like they were his best friend. Even if it's your first time you met him, trust me you felt like you were friends since you were in grade school. 

Dan Wheldon wasn't only respected by the fans and teams of IndyCar, he also did a ton for the U.S. Troops overseas and at home. He took plenty of time out to go visit the wounded troops that are stuck in the hospital. On a couple of special occasions he would go overseas to visit with the troops and speak with them on a personal basis. He would also have a veteran there by his side at all times while signing autographs. He was always giving thanks to our troops to, and loved representing them while with Panther Racing. Anyone who does this is held to the highest regards in my mind. 

Also Dan Wheldon was not only a winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011, he was a Indy 500 winner who actually respected the race. Not to mention he is one of only 18 drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 at least twice. He is also a driver that deserves the recognition after winning the Indianapolis 500 twice. This is a driver that knew the race was bigger than him. He knew that he had to respect the race to win it. Everyday in the month of May he would be thinking about winning the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, The Indianapolis 500. He just wanted to win this race over and over again, he tried harder than everyone else. Dan Wheldon really loved the Indianapolis 500 in general, compared to some previous winners he makes them look like chumps when taking about the race.

While discussing with my dad our favorite memory of Dan Wheldon, it came down to this. In 2006, my dad pointed out that Dan Wheldon was giving out autograph's by the fence. So my brother and I went over to him to receive an autograph. While waiting with a few others he noticed he was running out of time to give out autographs. So he decided that he could only give out autographs to the kids, in which he did.

This is what Dan Wheldon the two time Indianapolis 500 winner meant to me. Here are other views from IndyCar fans just like me In Memory of Dan Wheldon.

From Michael Wendler, 

"This blog has been silent for a while now due to personal and professional reasons but it can remain silent no longer. I really wish I didn’t have to type this but I must. Dan Wheldon is no longer with us. It does not seem real. It must be a nightmare. Someone please wake me from this but it is true. Dan Wheldon lost his life doing the thing he loved the most racing an Indycar. If you don’t know who that is or how devastating that is. Well I don’t really have the words to explain it to you. I’ve seen many of my fellow fans search for the words that just won’t come. It’s not even about racing, if you never heard Dan speak, I feel bad for you because if you had you would have liked him.

Dan Wheldon wasn’t just a great racer he was a great person. Although I never personally met him I feel as though I did. Dan was a truly nice person and a great guy. I missed a chance to meet him this year at Indy on opening day. He was back in the garage and was interviewing with the track announcer while I was sitting watching practice laps in the grandstand. As soon as he came up on the TV screens at the track saying they were just a small team this year and weren’t even going out to practice on opening day I thought “Damn if I knew he was back there, I would liked to say hello and met him and get his autograph.” Dan always had time for fans. He was warm and personable so I’m sure he would have happily signed by checked flag that I had reserved for winners of the Indy 500. Although his career was up in air at the time and I worried that he might still not have a full time next year I was sure I would see him next year one way or another. The Indy 500 just wouldn’t run with out him being involved. How wrong I was. I can’t believe it but it is true. The Indy 500 will still be there but it will continue without its champion.

 It came close to running without him this year, until Dan made a call to his friend Bryan Herta who owned a small racing team that ran on a shoestring budget. The call wasn’t really a business call since they were former teammates and friends from their time at Andretti Green Racing. When Bryan asked Dan what his option for this year’s race were, Dan laid what little option he had which consisted on smaller team that didn’t really have a chance to win the race in Dan’s opinion so he had not committed yet. Dan didn’t want to run the Indy 500 just to run it. He wanted a chance to win. Bryan told him to hold on because he had something in the works and he would call him back. Dan knew that Bryan didn’t joke about business and was serious about this. Somehow Bryan put together a deal and was able to convince Dan that they had a shot. As it turns out they had more than a shot, they did the improbable. They won.

This would eventually lead to Sunday’s events. I am sure many will seek to blame someone about this but there is really none to be had. Dan Wheldon was a racecar driver. Whether there was a five million dollar challenge or not there were cars available for that race and Dan Wheldon would have been in one of them. His love for the sport was that big. It was infectious. You could not help but be pulled in by his enthusiasm. As he worked as a commentator this year joking about being “an unemployed guy” his love of the sport came through. As people heaped praise upon him about his announcing he thought that was nice but I’m not ready to retire yet. I want to race. So he did one last time.

 I am struck by his final words as they interviewed him in the car before the race. A practice I always hate because I feel that you should not distract a driver while he is on the racetrack. They need to have their full attention on the road even under warm up or yellow. Racing is dangerous. We forget that. The first thing Dan did was name drop every sponsor on that car even the little ones because he knew what it was like to be without one. He even made a little joke about Curb Records that was a small sponsor that was something about Taylor Swift that I couldn’t quite make out. That was Dan, always joking, always upbeat and happy. When they asked him about whether he thought he could win this race from the back of the field he said “If I didn’t think I could win I would not be here.” It was typical Dan.

Everyone liked Dan. Even if they were mad at him they could not stay mad for long. Dan was supposed to replace Danica Patirck in the GoDaddy car next year. These two are forever linked since she appeared on the Indycar scene the year he won the Indy 500 the first time. While she garnered more attention he liked to remind people, I won the Indy 500 that year. Later on they would famously have words over a racing incident, which Dan would brush off the argument as Danica being feisty. After the race Sunday when interviewed about the tragic events of the day, Danica described though tears that it was hard because she had lost a friend. Rivals had become friendly. Not close but friendly. You just could not stay mad at the guy.

That is what we should remember about Dan. He was a great guy. He was a great racer indeed but a better human being. If we had more people like Dan the world would be a better place. He left us doing the thing he loved. While this saddens us and brings us to tears, we know he would want us to continue. You need look no further than the last tweet from his twitter account. Although he didn’t tweet it, I know he meant it. It simply said “Green.”

It is green Dan. Time to go."

From Tim Cychulski, 

"When I think about open wheel racing I think of some of the greatest names in motor sports:  Andretti, Rahal, and Unser. When I think about my generation of great drivers, Dan Wheldon is on the top of the list.  Not because he won the most races, or the most championships.  Not because he was the flashiest or most flamboyant driver in the Indy Car series.  Not because he raced dangerously or took too many risks on the track.  Dan Wheldon will forever be one my favorite drivers, and the greatest of my generation because of how he handled himself not only on the track - but off of it as well.  He was such a giving person, and never said no to anyone that wanted an autograph or a picture with him.  He worked with too many charities to count and brought joy to so many young boys and girls in hospitals in the last 10 years for those acts of kindness alone he should be immortalized forever.  How will I remember him?  As the guy that was always smiling, racing hard, and giving back to the fans.  I could go on and on about the future he had in the sport, as I firmly believe that he had a bright career in broadcasting and commentating had he lived to see his retirement from racing.  It was such a pleasure to listen to him this past year calling races when he wasn't behind the wheel competing in them.  We lost a great man and father this past Sunday, and I for one will never forget that moment in the grandstands where I was standing when they first announced that we should keep Dan in our prayers...because I knew that at that moment open wheel racing had lost one of it's best.

Rest In Peace Dan...we'll miss you forever and always.  I hope your wife and kids grow old cherishing the memories that you've given us all and never forget how great a man you were.  Thank you for so many years of enjoyment on and off the track, the world will never see the likes of someone like you again.

Here's to hoping that the Las Vegas Motor Speedway never forgets Dan and makes Turn 2:  Wheldon's Turn."

From Megan Sauce,

"My favorite memory of Dan was when I met him in Texas. He was just so kind, and was very genuinely interested in his fans. It was nice to see that type of appreciation for the fans. Dan was truly remarkable."

If you want to add your favorite memory of Dan Wheldon or just want to give appreciation to him just email me at 500milesnow@gmail.com. I will still post your writing if you still want to contribute.

This is a toast to a great race car driver named Dan Wheldon. You have affected many lives in many great ways. Goodbye buddy.