British driver Wheldon dies in crash

The car of Dan Wheldon bursts into flames in the pile-up during the Las Vegas Indy 300. Photograph: Robert Laberge/Getty Images

The British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon has died from injuries after his car crashed and burst into flames during a 15-car pile-up early in Sunday’s Las Vegas Indy 300.

Drivers were told of Wheldon’s death in a meeting about two hours after the pile-up that many drivers described as the worst they had ever seen. Wheldon was injured when his car flew over another during the wreck on Lap 13.

The IndyCar chief executive Randy Bernard said: “IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race. In honor of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five-lap salute to in his honor.”

Wheldon, who was 33, won the Indianapolis 500 twice, including this year and had been in line to win $ 5m had he won the Las Vegas 300 race.

The crash left the car of Townsend Bell upside down, smouldering cars were strewn all over the track and debris nearly halfway up one straight of the 1.5-mile oval.

Wheldon was injured when his car flew over another involved in the pile-up on lap 12 and apparently caught part of the catch fence just outside Turn 2. Wheldon was transported to hospital in a helicopter.

Pippa Mann and JR Hildebrand were also taken to hospital after complaining of dizziness. Paul Tracy, who was involved in the crash, said a team of doctors had gone to Wheldon’s aid. “Just a horrendous accident,” said Tracy. “They’re scrambling in there right now. There’s 20 doctors in there.”

Wheldon had to start in the back of the field and had quickly worked his way through the 34-car field before the pile-up.

“I’ve never seen such a mess in my entire career on the race track,” said Danica Patrick, in her final IndyCar race before heading to Nascar.

Drivers had been concerned about the high speeds on the oval after they reached nearly 225 mph during practice. Their concerns became reality when contact on Turn 2 sent cars flying through the air, crashing into each other and into the outside wall and catch fence.

“I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ryan Briscoe said. “The debris we all had to drive through the lap later, it looked like a war scene from Terminator or something. I mean, there were just pieces of metal and car on fire in the middle of the track with no car attached to it and just debris everywhere.”

The accident also involved the championship contender Will Power, who sat for a long time in his car in disbelief. The points leader, Dario Franchitti, avoided it and was subsequently confirmed as champion after a red flag.

“I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff. I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it’s about,” Franchitti said. “You saw what happened, one small mistake from somebody …”

Wheldon was replaced by Hildebrand at Panther Racing at the start of this season and failed to land another ride. He put together a deal for the Indianapolis 500 with Bryan Herta Autosport, then won the race in dramatic fashion when Hildebrand crashed going into the final turn. Wheldon sailed past for his second Indy 500 victory.

Despite the win he was unable to put together anything for the rest of the season and spent the last several months doing television work and helping Herta Autosport test the prototype car the team will use next season.

Then he laid claim to the IndyCar chief executive Randy Bernard’s offer to pay $ 5m if any non-regular series driver entered and won the season finale at Las Vegas. Although Wheldon, winner of 14 career races on ovals, did not meet the spirit of the promotion, Bernard let him participate in the challenge.