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IndyCar
MILLER: Remembering Wheldon
What we were able to witness in his 33 years was a guy who became as successful in life as he was on track.
Robin Miller pays tribute to Dan Wheldon, who he covered since the Brit arrived in America. (LAT)
Dan Wheldon chased me down pit lane on Friday morning at Las Vegas Speedway and yelled: “Hey brother, you are making my life miserable. Everybody keeps asking me about my new deal and I’ve got to do that dance. Couldn’t you have waited until Monday to write that story?’’
No, I replied, as a fellow member of the media he should understand that breaking news can’t be postponed – especially big news like him signing to go with Michael Andretti’s team in 2012.
Then he grinned with those expensive pearly whites and said: “Ex member of media brother, I’m back at my real job now. Television can wait a few years for my talents.’’
Sadly, we won’t ever get to watch Wheldon drive a race car, hear his enlightening comments from the television booth or see how his colorful career would have played out.
But what we were able to witness in his 33 years was a guy who became as successful in his life as he was on the race track.
“He was one of those special, special people when he first showed up in IndyCar, brash and all that stuff but a charmer,’’ said Dario Franchitti, whose fourth championship meant nothing on a vicious afternoon that claimed his friend, foe and former teammate.
“Then he became this loving family guy who is still charming but he had this whole new side to him.’’
And it was that new outlook which seemed to make Wheldon so much more endearing.
It’s not that he didn’t have a lot of fans because he was always very popular with the paying customers. Unfailingly, he always took time for an autograph, photograph or to just make a fan feel like they mattered. He was a good teammate as well, plus he packed plenty of media savvy.
Still, the Dan Wheldon of 2005 or 2006 wasn’t as mature or as happy as the 2011 version.
He could be downright petulant back then, throwing a tantrum when Danica Patrick got the Sports Illustrated cover after his first Indy win in ’05. In keeping with the old race driver’s creed, he made chasing skirts an art form as a single man is inclined to do and was even cockier than that spindly kid from London who came over here in 1999.
He often was a nightmare to work with for a public relations handler.
When his PR girl, Susie Behm, became his wife in 2008 many predicted a short run.
Yet it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Wheldon became a loyal husband and a doting dad to his two sons, Sebastien and Oliver, and it always seemed like he was genuinely beaming when the four of them were together.
Not even losing his full-time ride this season could bring him down.
“I’d rather play with my kids than jump in some #$&$box,’’ he said last spring.
Of course, his victory at Indianapolis last May for buddy Bryan Herta and Steve Newey (passing the disabled car of the team that fired him) was as satisfying as anything he’d ever done and very emotional.
But he didn’t throw down on anybody; he simply picked up Sebastian and enjoyed the moment.
He now knew what it was like to be forgotten and it made him savor this unlikely win for a little team that only showed up at 16th & Georgetown.
With nothing to drive until the 2012 Dallara was ready to test, Wheldon agreed to join VERSUS and provide analysis for a few races. He was an instant hit, with that current perspective on the cars and drivers enhanced by his enthusiasm and keen observations. He was a natural but made it clear while he was happy to be part of the team, he couldn’t wait to get back to his real job.
Testing the new car re-energized his road racing ambitions and when Randy Bernard asked if he wanted to run for $5 million at Las Vegas while starting last, he couldn’t say yes fast enough.
As prolific as he’s been on ovals, Dan qualified 29th out of 34 cars on Friday and cracked: “Hell, it doesn’t really matter, I’m starting at the back anyway.’’
It wasn’t long after Sunday’s announcement that he was dead before all the second guessers condemned the gimmick, the number of cars, the speeds and how he shouldn’t have been out there.
But he WANTED to be out there, it’s what he did and where he belonged.
Wheldon was the victim of someone else’s mistake and an insane formula that forces drivers to run full throttle all the time and has been in place way too long. Even somebody as brave as Dan seemed concerned about the three-abreast madness before the start of his final race.
As safe as it’s become, racing like this is lethal and new rules and aero changes are needed before INDYCAR can continue on 1.5-mile ovals.
We can’t bring back Danny Boy, we can only mourn, grieve for his wife and sons and remember him as a damn good racer who loved the loud pedal as much as a new pair of shoes.
The real tragedy is that he had become complete as a person, reveling in his family, happy with life and excited about the future.
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
No, I replied, as a fellow member of the media he should understand that breaking news can’t be postponed – especially big news like him signing to go with Michael Andretti’s team in 2012.
Then he grinned with those expensive pearly whites and said: “Ex member of media brother, I’m back at my real job now. Television can wait a few years for my talents.’’
Sadly, we won’t ever get to watch Wheldon drive a race car, hear his enlightening comments from the television booth or see how his colorful career would have played out.
But what we were able to witness in his 33 years was a guy who became as successful in his life as he was on the race track.
“He was one of those special, special people when he first showed up in IndyCar, brash and all that stuff but a charmer,’’ said Dario Franchitti, whose fourth championship meant nothing on a vicious afternoon that claimed his friend, foe and former teammate.
“Then he became this loving family guy who is still charming but he had this whole new side to him.’’
And it was that new outlook which seemed to make Wheldon so much more endearing.
It’s not that he didn’t have a lot of fans because he was always very popular with the paying customers. Unfailingly, he always took time for an autograph, photograph or to just make a fan feel like they mattered. He was a good teammate as well, plus he packed plenty of media savvy.
Still, the Dan Wheldon of 2005 or 2006 wasn’t as mature or as happy as the 2011 version.
He could be downright petulant back then, throwing a tantrum when Danica Patrick got the Sports Illustrated cover after his first Indy win in ’05. In keeping with the old race driver’s creed, he made chasing skirts an art form as a single man is inclined to do and was even cockier than that spindly kid from London who came over here in 1999.
He often was a nightmare to work with for a public relations handler.
When his PR girl, Susie Behm, became his wife in 2008 many predicted a short run.
Yet it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Wheldon became a loyal husband and a doting dad to his two sons, Sebastien and Oliver, and it always seemed like he was genuinely beaming when the four of them were together.
Not even losing his full-time ride this season could bring him down.
“I’d rather play with my kids than jump in some #$&$box,’’ he said last spring.
Of course, his victory at Indianapolis last May for buddy Bryan Herta and Steve Newey (passing the disabled car of the team that fired him) was as satisfying as anything he’d ever done and very emotional.
But he didn’t throw down on anybody; he simply picked up Sebastian and enjoyed the moment.
He now knew what it was like to be forgotten and it made him savor this unlikely win for a little team that only showed up at 16th & Georgetown.
With nothing to drive until the 2012 Dallara was ready to test, Wheldon agreed to join VERSUS and provide analysis for a few races. He was an instant hit, with that current perspective on the cars and drivers enhanced by his enthusiasm and keen observations. He was a natural but made it clear while he was happy to be part of the team, he couldn’t wait to get back to his real job.
Testing the new car re-energized his road racing ambitions and when Randy Bernard asked if he wanted to run for $5 million at Las Vegas while starting last, he couldn’t say yes fast enough.
As prolific as he’s been on ovals, Dan qualified 29th out of 34 cars on Friday and cracked: “Hell, it doesn’t really matter, I’m starting at the back anyway.’’
It wasn’t long after Sunday’s announcement that he was dead before all the second guessers condemned the gimmick, the number of cars, the speeds and how he shouldn’t have been out there.
But he WANTED to be out there, it’s what he did and where he belonged.
Wheldon was the victim of someone else’s mistake and an insane formula that forces drivers to run full throttle all the time and has been in place way too long. Even somebody as brave as Dan seemed concerned about the three-abreast madness before the start of his final race.
As safe as it’s become, racing like this is lethal and new rules and aero changes are needed before INDYCAR can continue on 1.5-mile ovals.
We can’t bring back Danny Boy, we can only mourn, grieve for his wife and sons and remember him as a damn good racer who loved the loud pedal as much as a new pair of shoes.
The real tragedy is that he had become complete as a person, reveling in his family, happy with life and excited about the future.
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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