IndyCar Series drivers paid tribute to Dan Wheldon in an Indianapolis 500-style, rows of three, five-lap salute to end the IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Two-time Indy 500 winner Wheldon died following a multiple-car accident on lap 11. The race was red flagged for more than two hours after the accident and, rather than restart the 300-mile, 200-lap event, the decision came from the drivers to end the race with five tribute laps.
Members of each IndyCar Series team lined the pit lane, as fans stood and applauded from the grandstand while the cars circulated behind the pace car.
Speaking afterward, 2011 series champion Dario Franchitti paid tribute to Wheldon while acknowledging the respect shown by the IndyCar community and its fans.
“First, thanks to the fans who showed so much respect,” Franchitti said. “In situations like this, we know it's sadness. We think of the fun times. It's just really, really sad. It's the ugly, ugly side of our sport.”
The three-wide formation was based loosely on the running order at the time of the accident, with Tony Kanaan to the inside, Ed Carpenter in the middle and Ryan Briscoe to the outside on the front row.