Dan Wheldon

Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive Wheldonwas a British racing driver. He was the 2005 IndyCar Series champion and a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, having won the race in 2005 and 2011. Wheldon died from severe head injuries shortly after a collision during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship on 16 October 2011 at the age of 33...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth22 June 1978
jobs team race
But I have to say I'm incredibly proud of the Panther Racing National Guard Team, and in my IndyCar career there's not many races where I've honestly left the track feeling that we've executed everything perfectly. And I have to say, I thought they did an absolute phenomenal job. The pit stops were just first class.
thinking race car
When I think of the pace that I drove my first race, everything was happening a million miles an hour. Now when I get in the car everything happens so much slower.
grabbed jealous until wait
When you think Danica grabbed the headlines, you wait until he starts. She'll be jealous of him.
chased position prefer
To be chased is the position that I prefer to be in,
defending forward looking package points season start strong win worried
We're not too worried about it because you don't get points for qualifying. We know we've got a strong package and I'm looking forward to defending my win here and start the season off on the right foot.
handle learn situation teach track
They teach you not only at the track but away from the track: how to handle yourself, how to handle yourself in a situation like I'm in now, with a big lead. There's a lot that you can learn from these guys.
finally hard until work
A lot of the hard work was done at Chicago, but until you finally clinch it, I don't think you feel like you have. I'm ecstatic.
aspired motor passionate since sports
That's what really got me passionate about American motor sports. Ever since that point, I've kind of aspired to being out here.
That's not true. But you're on the right track.
anyone enjoyable experience goal harder next push relationships stayed team together winning year
As competitive as all of us have been, the relationships have stayed very, very close, and that has been a very enjoyable experience for me. We push each other harder than anyone else out there. Our goal for next year is to all stay together and stay the winning team that we have become.
bit boys difficult excited help japan last league learned nice push rookie short struggled teammates until
The one thing I've learned about this league is don't get excited too soon, ... It's going to be a difficult race. My teammates are going to push me really hard. Last year, I struggled a little bit on the short ovals. The boys have been a big help to me. It's nice to have your first pole. I'm still a rookie until Japan so I have a lot to learn.
buddy disagree disappear fact happen hear indy lost momentum pushing series solely time tony
The one thing I do disagree with the IRL on is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely. ... Do you hear about Buddy Rice, who is the 2004 Indy 500 champion? Do you hear about my teammate, Tony Kanaan, who is the 2004 IndyCar Series champion? You really don't. With the momentum they've created, they shouldn't be pushing one person solely at this point. ... Because if Danica should happen to disappear and do something else, then you've lost that momentum and you haven't used the momentum you've got at the time to push other people.
disagree fact mistake pushing
The one thing I do disagree with the IRL is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely. I think that's a big mistake on their part.
chance disagree disappears fact lose momentum pushing
The one thing I do disagree on is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely; that's a big mistake. With the momentum they've created, they shouldn't be pushing one person. If Danica disappears and does something else, you lose that momentum and the chance to push others.