Horrendous Indy car crash in Vegas -- Update: RIP Dan Wheldon

Here was Dan Wheldon's record for his nine starts at Indianapolis: 19, 3, 1, 4, 22, 12, 2, 2, 1. That's six top four finishes in nine races, and six in the seven races he finished. Superb.

 

I was thinking about that, too. A lot. There is already a somber few minutes at Indy because of it being on Memorial Day, first of all, and with the knowledge that people have died in the race over the years being the second reason. But the way it's done, you bounce back really quick and the party begins as the cars roar to life. It's going to be odd next year to pull up early in the morning, toss the beanbags around, throw some burgers on the grill, knowing that we're all going to have to relive this at some point in the early afternoon.

Oh, and you are also dead-on in your prior post. ABC did a terrible job with the announcement. Or IndyCar did. I know it's the last thing on everyone's mind at that point, but you have to make sure the network carrying the race is good to go for the announcement.

I'm still amazed that some of the drivers, according to the broadcast, wanted to finish the race after Kanaan and Franchitti announced the death to everyone. They are a different breed, that's for sure.

 

She said that in an interview with ABC not long after the crash. She talked about how she had nothing to lose, but had everything to lose in that race so she decided to lift off the accelerator and just ride along for a few laps. She came about as close to saying "somebody was going to get killed today" without actually saying it as she could.

 

As someone who produces live TV, I'll cut the broadcast team some slack. The guy walked into the room, picked up the mic and immediately started talking. Without some level of warning it's a bitch to get the front end of something like that live.

IndyCar needs to give a warning so the broadcaster is ready to take it.

 

Our ABC affiliate switched away from the race coverage for an hour-long telethon to raise money for flu shots for the needy. The switch came right before the announcement of Wheldon's death.

 

I wonder if ABC knew what the news was going to be? I mean, we all suspected it, but I wonder if they had any sort of inside info?

 

Wrong aero package.

They need the Hanford (sp?) device, which allows cars to separate and slingshot.

Best analogy is that at a 1.5-mile track with this aero package, it's like a NASCAR restrictor-plate race. Cars can't get away from each other.

 

They had to know that in a best-case scenario it was a very serious injury and in worst case, death.

Not really any other options.

 

I thought that all during the coverage.

Was there an in-car camera on Wheldon's car?