Dan Wheldon remembered as "inspirational" driver

INDIANAPOLIS - Dozens of fans have left flowers, candles and notes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway gates in memory of two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon.

The makeshift memorial began taking shape within hours after Wheldon was killed Sunday in a massive crash during an IndyCar race in Las Vegas.

Fans continued stopping by the Indianapolis track early Monday, including one that WISH-TV reports left a bottle a milk — the traditional drink by Indy 500 winners that Wheldon dumped over his head after winning the race in May.

Fan Beckie Jeffrey tells WTHR-TV that Wheldon was a friendly driver who made time to talk with fans, especially children.

Meanwhile, Formula One champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton hailed their fellow Briton Wheldon as a "true fighter" and an "inspirational" figure.

Button recalled Wheldon as being a star of the British karting circuit in the 1990s before going to win the Indianapolis 500 twice in the United States.

"I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90s, a true fighter," Button said on Twitter.

"We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy ... I can't begin to imagine what his family are going through and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time."

Wheldon, who was born in Buckinghamshire, a county just north of London, was also an inspiration to Hamilton after deciding to try his luck in the U.S. following a successful junior career that saw him win eight British karting titles.

"Dan was a racer I'd followed throughout my career, as I often followed in his footsteps as we climbed the motor sport ladder in the UK," said Hamilton, Button's teammate at McLaren.

"He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500, he was an inspirational guy, and someone that every racing driver looked up to with respect and admiration. This is a tragic loss at such a young age."

Hamilton finished second in Sunday's Korean Grand Prix, with McLaren teammate Button fourth.

Wheldon died Sunday after a massive, fiery wreck at the Las Vegas Indy 300. He was involved in a 15-vehicle pile-up, his car flying over another and bursting into flames.

Wheldon was born in the small English village of Emberton and began driving go-karts as a 4-year-old.

Having failed to secure financial backing for his career in Europe, he moved to the United States in 1999. In 2005, he became the first English driver to win the Indy 500 since Graham Hill in 1966. Wheldon won the race for a second time this year.

Despite his success and stardom in the U.S., Wheldon was little known in his home country. Formula One racing grabs all the media coverage in Europe, with IndyCar receiving little notice.

British Racing Drivers' Club president Derek Warwick offered his condolences.

"Two victories in the Indy 500 put him in a very select group of drivers," Warwick said. "Dan was a true professional and a great ambassador for the sport. He was highly focused in the way he approached his racing and a real perfectionist.

"With his film-star good looks and athletic prowess, it was no wonder that the American public took him to their hearts."'

Wheldon had been scheduled to compete next weekend at Surfers Paradise, Australia in the Gold Coast 600 race, teaming with V8 Supercar champion James Courtney as a co-driver for two 300-kilometer touring car races on Saturday and Sunday.

Five other IndyCar drivers are scheduled to compete on the Gold Coast, including Australian Will Power, who suffered back injuries in Sunday's crash in Las Vegas.

V8 series chairman Tony Cochrane said he expects some of the American-based drivers to pull out.

"If any driver wishes to pull out in respect, we would fully appreciate and understand that and be as supportive as we can," Cochrane said Monday. "And we will find replacement drivers for anyone who wishes to drop out this weekend. We will cross that bridge and worry about that when we get over the initial shock and deal with it in due course."

Cochrane said a memorial service would be held on Saturday morning at the Gold Coast track.

"He was very much looking forward to having his first ... go in a V8 Supercar this coming weekend," Cochrane said. "We have just been reminded in the most tragic of circumstances what can happen in motorsport. This is a terrible day."