Tributes continue to pour in in memory of two time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, as his widow spoke for the first time since his tragic death
"Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days," Susie Wheldon said in a statement on Thursday. "The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.
"Dan touchedd the lives of many people, and I would like to invite those citizens in our community who knew and loved my husband to attend his funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg on Saturday, October 22, at 10 a.m.
"Though we won't be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing. Thank you again. I am forever grateful for your kindness."
This Sunday, October 23rd, a public memorial is scheduled at Conseco Fieldhouse; it will also be broadcast on IndyCar.com and the Versus channel live from 4-5 p.m. Eastern time.
NASCAR Camping World Series trucks and Sprint Cup Series cars will carry a decal honoring Wheldon, and several other drivers are planning their own tributes for the '05 IndyCar champ. The bumper of Brad Keselowski's No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge will say "In Honor of Dan", and Max Papis will carry this special decal.
Wheldon was heavily involved in the testing for the 2012 IndyCar Dallara, which will now be named after him.
"Dan lives in the memory of everybody at Dallara," Gianpaolo Dallara, Dallara founder and company president, said in a statement. "He has been a true champion; not because of his many victories, but and above everything else, because and above everything else, because he has been a true and warm man to all the people he encountered.
"All people at Dallara always enjoyed meeting him in Italy and in the USA. We will honor his memory for years to come by dedicated the Dallara IndyCar 2012 in his name. He deserves that."
An auction will be held on the memorial website created for Wheldon, organized on Twitter by IndyCar driver Graham Rahal. Since first announcing he would be auctioning off his race worn helmet from the Las Vegas race, Rahal has received items ranging from sports memorabilia to vacations to Mexico. The items available for auction have come from racing champions like Jenson Button and Jimmie Johnson, to cycling legend Lance Armstrong and Barrett Jackson Auctions, among many others. For more information, visit Rahal's Facebook page.
Wheldon was scheduled to race in this weekend's Armor All Gold Coast 600 in South East Queensland, Australia. IndyCar drivers Will Power, who injured his back in the wreck that took Wheldon's life, and Tony Kanaan, a close friend of Wheldon's, both pulled out of the event. Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Alex Tagliani will still compete in the race. Wheldon will be replaced by Aston Martin Racing's Darren Turner.
To donate to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust:
Fifth Third Private Bank
Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust
251 North Illionois St.
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
To send condolence letters to the family:
The Wheldons
9600 Koger Blvd. N, Ste. 105
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
The NASCAR Lugnuts team also wrote tributes to Wheldon, which you can read here, here and here.
Thanks to SB Nation, USA Today, Associated Press, Autosport.com, Los Angeles Times, Racin' Today, IndyCar and Versus TV for the quotes and information used in this piece.
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