The Lionheart: Dan Wheldon documentary covers grief, loss, love and familial legacy
It's been nearly 13 years since two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon was killed in a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — It was 10 years after the death of their father that associates of filmmaker Laura Brownson brought her an article to read about the late Dan Wheldon.
Standing below the monument on Dan Wheldon Way along the downtown St. Petersburg race course that honors the late two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, his two pre-teen sons were named junior development drivers at Andretti Global in their own bid to follow the father they barely knew.
Wheldon was 33 when he was killed in a horrific crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway just five months after winning his second Indy 500 title. His son, Oliver, was an infant riding in his mother's arms on the victory lap. Sebastian, who has home videos as a toddler with his father, was not yet 3 but kissed the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway alongside the beloved British racer.
Wheldon was a popular, funny, confident character in the IndyCar community and his death rocked the entire series. No one was more devastated than his widow, Susie, who 10 years later was still grieving and yet willing to let her boys follow their father's career path.
