Since many of those who are associated with the trucking industry also tend to be racing fans, I wanted to share this story about IndyCar driver, Dan Wheldon. The article is about how drivers are looking at Sunday's season opener as practically a tribute race.
The drivers will compete for the first time since Wheldon's death last October — racing through the streets of St. Petersburg, Wheldon's adopted hometown. They'll drive a car named for him and navigate their way through Turn 10, recently renamed Dan Wheldon Way.
Wheldon's death was the first fatality in a major racing series since Dale Earnhardt died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR accident, and the circumstances were so very different for IndyCar. The Oct. 16 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the season finale, and the race was halted after just 11 laps following the 15-car accident. More than two hours later, the drivers were summoned back to their cars for the five-lap tribute.
I think making this a tribute race is fantastic. The passing of Dan Wheldon serves as a grim reminder of the risk that race drivers take whenever they strap into a race car. All sports are dangerous and racing is definitely no exception. The other drivers and fans should stop for a minute to honor Wheldon in the way he would have like to be honored – on the race track.
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