Picture from AP/jsonlineThe media has been all over the Dan Wheldon fatal crash in Las Vegas. Some good reporting and some horrible reporting.
From the horrible category: From the Las Vegas Review Journal: Sam Schmidt, the owner of the race team that Wheldon drove for, was seen pacing back and forth outside the trauma center late Sunday afternoon.
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/crash-at-las-vegas-indycar-race-involves-15-cars-driver-dan-weldon-airlifted-to-umc-131951048.html Sam Schmidt is a paraplegic and is confined to a wheelchair. He really cannot pace.
Other media reports: The other local newspaper, the Las Vegas Sun just reran a AP story and the only local take on the accident was to wonder about the driver interviews and saying it was a good call to cancel the race. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/bloggity/2011/oct/16/tragic-day-las-vegas-motor-speedway/
The good: From ESPN: The accident spoiled what Bernard had hoped would be a showcase event for the struggling IndyCar Series.
The second-year CEO worked the entire season on turning the finale into a spectacle, and said he'd offer his resignation to the IndyCar board of directors if ABC's broadcast didn't pull a .8 ranking. His goal was to improve upon last year's season finale's horrible television rating and give the series some momentum for what's hoped to be a strong season in 2013 with the introduction of a new car and new manufacturers.
So Bernard poured everything into Las Vegas, renting the speedway from owner Bruton Smith and agreeing to promote the event himself. He landed enough sponsorship to at least break even on race, and the $5 million challenge bought him an enormous amount of publicity the entire year.
Bernard got the Las Vegas Strip to close to stage a parade of cars, hosted industry parties and a blackjack tournament all to boost interest in the race. He even got MGM Grand Resorts to offer a pair of tickets to anyone staying this weekend in one of the chain's 14 properties.
But what was hoped to be a day of celebration quickly turned somber.
When drivers returned to the track for the tribute laps, Wheldon's No. 77 was the only one on the towering scoreboard. Franchitti sobbed uncontrollably as he got back into his car for the memorial ride. The sound of "Danny Boy" echoed around the track, followed by "Amazing Grace." Hundreds of crew workers from each team stood at attention in honor of Wheldon.
"What can you say? We're going to miss him," Ganassi said. "Everybody in IndyCar died a little today."
http://espn.go.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/7111712/dan-wheldon-dies-following-indycar-crash-vegas
The local media did not report this at all. How pathetic.
From Sam Schmidt Motorsports, owner of Dan Wheldon's car and team: LAS VEGAS (Oct. 16, 2011) – A statement from Sam Schmidt, owner of the No. 77 IndyCar Series team, about driver Dan Wheldon, who suffered fatal injuries in a crash during the IndyCar Series season finale Oct. 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
“Dan Wheldon was a tremendous competitor, a great racer and an even better person. It was an honor to have him be a part of our team. All of us at Sam Schmidt Motorsports are deeply saddened by his passing. On behalf of everyone at Sam Schmidt Motorsports, our prayers go out to all of his family, especially his wife, Susie, and their two children.”
http://www.samschmidtmotorsports.com/sam-schmidt-statement-regarding-dan-wheldon/
From the IZOD Indy car website: The sound of bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" cut through the silence and accompanied drivers on their five-lap tribute to one of their own. Lining pit lane, IZOD IndyCar Series and track officials and crew members of every team stood at attention -- many weeping and comforting each other.
A run for $5 million via a promotion, which was to augment the celebration of the inaugural IZOD INDYCAR World Championships Presented by Honda, turned somber when INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard announced that Dan Wheldon was pronounced dead at University Hospital from injuries suffered in a fiery 15-car crash on Lap 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Wheldon, of Emberton, England, was 33. He is survived by his wife, Susie, two young sons, his parents, Clive and Susie, and three siblings.
The 200-lap race to decide the series championship and rookie of the year was ruled incomplete by INDYCAR officials and championship points would include races through the Kentucky Indy 300 on Oct. 2. That gives the title to Dario Franchitti for the third consecutive year and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title to James Hinchcliffe.
http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/50911-wheldon-succumbs-to-injuries-in-crash/
The AP appears to have the best reports, while local newspaper reporting is not very good.
