+Luiz Ronaldo Merelles Severino What rubbish!! It may have been a "fairytale" but certainly not "the greatest history....ever"!! You want history-making moments at Indy? Go back to 1960....or 1965. They were historical years.
@@ultrametric9317 The series cost Dan his life. They should have never raced at Vegas. It was not suitable for those cars. Dan was a racer and wanted to take on the challenge. He did not cause the wreck.
Seriously? I've been watching and going to Indy 500's for 40 years. He may be on the outside of the top ten but they were going the same speeds 25 years ago and without the SAFER barriers. How many of today's drivers withe safer seats, safer cars, and no non-forgiving concrete would have the balls to keep their foot in it like those drivers from way back when did. Besides that Wheldon would probably have been killed in '03 his rookie year if the SAFER barrier hadn't been there to save his life. And after 105 races at Indy being just on the outside of the top 10 is a great compliment. But he only deserved one win so I'm really overstepping it out of respect for his tragic end.
RIP Dan Wheldon. Met him in Virginia at the Richmond race in 2004 and he was the most sincere and caring driver. Miss seeing him race today. Probably would have won another 500
But here is the crazy part...If JR never hit the wall, DW probably would have never been asked to start as the additional 34th car in Vegas. In retrospect, JR crashing was heartbreaking for him, but deadly for Dan RIP Dan, we miss ya.
If you mean the best -man- ever to race at the championship level, he was certainly one of the legends. If you mean the greatest driver, as a competitive driver, then I'd say it can be very hard to gauge such things, given the verities of equipment and teams and opportunities that can arise. He was definitely one of the best, but every era in American open wheel history has had its outstanding drivers.
Love seeing that crowd packed in there. I'm a huge NASCAR fan, but respect the hell outta Indy Car and watch every race that I can, as long as it doesn't interfere with the Cup race.
at the time i was so mad that JR Hildebrand lost this race...but looking back the end was almost storybook perfection for one of the greatest racers of this Generation
My friend Tim Batey and I stayed after the race with Dan ,Brian, and the team. We were the last fans in the track. Tim past away 11 days later. We were both huge fans.
I find this SO BLOODY HARD to watch. Seeing Dan take the flag then getting the radio message from Suzie and then his emotions in the car in Victory Lane and then greeting his wife in there. The guy was simply magical and I had the pleasure of knowing him fairly well and interviewed him many times. He was a poet of a driver and I'm sure he would have gone on to win the Indianapolis 500 many more times. Without Daniel Wheldon in it, the world of motor racing is a darker place... Miss you buddy.
+JT1720 JR never recovered from that moment. Alot of promise but losing like that plays with your head and he crashed again at Indy the next year and later lost his car. Hopefully he comes back someday and gets another chance.
I had to leave the room when he crashed, I wanted him to win so bad. Also, at the time, I wasn't a huge fan of Wheldon, so I didn't think it was worth it.
SFTU! Wether its F1, Indy, Nascar or any other racing series, they are all unique on their own level. And they all come from the same family called MOTORSPORT. As a race fan, I love all the series based on their unique characteristic.
It's absolutely mesmerizing watching these cars. I love all forms of racing. Nascar, NHRA, World of Outlaws, and Indy Racing. These cars sound so beautiful, but, nothing compared to the CHAMP Cars/Cart Back in the 90's...i seriously miss those cars. They sounded just sick. Nonetheless, awesome race, awesome sounds. Thank you for the upload.
I was so blessed to be there. Been to every 500 since 2005, which of course Dan won as well. Me and my friends were together between turns 3-4 last May screaming and almost lost our voices when Dan crossed the Start/Finish on lap 200... Just an amazing day. We miss you Dan!
MY GOD YES! This will be my 26 straight and 27th total Indy 500. I'll be in the SW Vista drinking frosty cold ones and having a blast. It's the best weekend of the year hands down! By the way I'm only 31 years old, it's part of my life. Al Jr. said it best "You just don't know what INDY means".
I can't believe its already almost been 7 years since the worst day of my life . Rip Dan you will always be my hero . right after JR hit the wall my dad picked me up cause we knew dan won and he was my favorite. this was the greatest race i was ever at and it was my first full indy 500. i didn't stay for the end of 09 and 10 . i also saw him race at kentucky later that year and i got to talk to him at a go-kart race a few weeks before the crash
I've been to the 500 since 2002 saw Dan win both his 500 wins and 2 other times at Kansas Speedway this was my youngest brothers 1st 500 and my mom's first time back since 1996 this is my favorite Indy 500 I got Dan's autograph the day before and my picture with him I was so pumped and excited sitting at the top of turn 3 then just 5 months later I remember watching the Las Vegas race at home on TV and by the end of that day we were all in tears it was during my senior year I wore my Wheldon shirt to school the next day but after Christmas I made a tribute shirt and I only wear it when I go back to Indy every year always think about him when we get back to Indy RIP Dan
I can't wait to rewatch this Indy 500 in 10 years or so and compare it to the great Indy 500s of the past, more importantly the 90s. I really will miss Dan, he was one of my favorite drivers. This race alone shows why a true champion, dare I say legend was lost
Unbelievable ending. By the way, these guys are crazy to race on indy league... riding ovals with light cars that offers very little protection at over 220mph... definitely the most dangerous championship in motorsports.
1:40:32 ... Car #77. That's the car that Dan Wheldon would be driving in Las Vegas, less than 5 months later. RIP Danny. Indy 500 champion forever! :'(
It was 2011 the final race of The Izod IndyCar series in Las Vegas, but then there was this freak crash happened at lap 11 to 13, dan’s family and friends were there but they didn’t know what to do, his best crew chief and pit crew’s best friend, his best wife and Oliver and Sebastian’s best father is gone And Sebastian and Oliver’s thought their dreams of racing with their father is over, but they didn’t give up they kept moving forward to their father‘s footsteps when they are old enough they will compete at the Indianapolis 500 just like their father
Afterthought.......I wrote Cary Agajanian after the team's win at Indy, and he said it best when he was kind enough to respond and Cary said....." I think it was pure destiny." The Spirit of "Ol' Calhoun" revisited that day in a chassis that was 9 years old......a 2002 Dallara.
Going yearly since 2009, I'll never forget this roar. I miss the old sound so much and having it ring in my ears for the next 10 hours after the race was over
Man, I'm STILL disappointed for J.R. BUT...if he couldn't win, then Dan was the one who I'd have cheered for. Overcame it all, to win it all in 2011. RIP, Dan. Miss you, bro.
Anyone know what happened to scott dixon in the last couple of laps, did he run out of fuel or something because it looked like he was way ahead of dan wheldon when the scoreboard last showed with 2 to go
I remember this race watch it live. Felt heartbreak for hildenbrand, going into turn four I thought are we going to have two rookies win the biggest auto races in their first try in the same year- Trevor Bayne in 2011 Daytona 500. Everyone blames him for blowing it, but if you look it was Charlie kimble who cost him the race. He didn't move over to let him by IZOD should have had the same rule that they do in nascar; if you are a lap down and can't improve your position then let the leader by. Kimble was going to finish 12th, JR had to go out of the groove which made him hit the wall, I hope kimble apologized for not moving over. Could have been something special, but as abc wide world of sports slogan goes- The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But then again we didn't know that months later Dan wheldon will be taken from us.
I was at the race in 2011. Yes, Kimball should've moved up to the higher part of the track to give JR room. However, JR probably should've lifted going into 4 since Kimball wasn't giving room. Also, if Hildebrand would've won, Dan Wheldon would still be alive to this day
There is compelling evidence that Ray Harroun didn't win the 1st Indy 500. That honor should have gone to Ralph Mulford in a Lozier race car. Mulford crossed the finish line first but because of a scoring error, the race was awarded to Harroun. Controversially, all official records of that first race were later destroyed so that the official results could never be disputed. Harroun did not win.
![2011 IZOD IndyCar Series - Indianapolis 500 [Full race]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
