‘That race on that track a recipe for disaster’

ONE of the most prestigious motor races in the US calendar was a “recipe for disaster”, it has been claimed, after a British driver died in a horrific high-speed crash while trying to claim a multi-million-pound prize.

In a devastating pile-up that has raised questions about the safety of IndyCar racing, Dan Wheldon lost his life after his vehicle clipped another car and hurtled through the air before striking a fence and bursting into flames.

The 33-year-old, who was travelling at speeds in excess of 200mph, was one of 15 drivers involved in the crash on the narrow Las Vegas circuit, which many believe was unsuitable for machines capable of such power.

Wheldon, from Buckinghamshire, had started from the back of the 34-car grid after accepting a $5 million (£3.2m) challenge to overtake every other driver and finish first.

He had made up ten places and was enjoying a successful race but was caught up in a chain reaction of crashes on the 11th lap, sparked by two cars colliding further up the field. In an emotional address, his father, Clive Wheldon, 59, said last night that his son had died in a sport he was destined to compete in. “Daniel was born to be a racer and yesterday he left us doing what he loved. He was a champion on and off the track,” he said.

Motorsport legend Sir Jackie Stewart questioned whether the race should have gone ahead at all, because the Las Vegas circuit was not designed for races with so many cars capable of such speeds. He said: “In Las Vegas, it is a 1.5-mile oval, and there were 34 cars in the field. I think that was too many for such a short track. There were too many cars locked up together.

“Getting through that traffic for a driver like Dan Wheldon, for example, which he was surely wanting to do, was a very precarious business.”

Mark Blundell, a former Formula 1 and IndyCar driver, said: “It was inevitable in many ways. It was a recipe for disaster. These type of cars shouldn’t be on these type of circuits.”

Jody Scheckter, a former South African Formula 1 champion, was among the spectators at the race, and feared for the safety of his son, Tomas, an IndyCar driver.

He said: “I’ve wanted him to give up for a while. Hopefully this will knock some sense into him and realise there is more to life. It really isn’t worth it.”

Scots IndyCar 2011 champion Dario Franchitti, who was also in the race, said he had been left “numb and speechless” following the death of his childhood friend and former teammate.

The 38-year-old from Bathgate, who led a five-lap tribute to the father of two, said: “We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships and today, it doesn’t matter. It’s just really, really sad. It’s the ugly side of our sport.”