Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive Wheldonwas a British racing driver. He was the 2005 IndyCar Series champion and a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, having won the race in 2005 and 2011. Wheldon died from severe head injuries shortly after a collision during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship on 16 October 2011 at the age of 33...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth22 June 1978
disagree fact mistake pushing
The one thing I do disagree with the IRL is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely. I think that's a big mistake on their part.
anyone enjoyable experience goal harder next push relationships stayed team together winning year
As competitive as all of us have been, the relationships have stayed very, very close, and that has been a very enjoyable experience for me. We push each other harder than anyone else out there. Our goal for next year is to all stay together and stay the winning team that we have become.
certainly enables following intention people perceived push run somewhat takes value win winning
In England, if you win the championship, that enables you to run the #1 the following year, and you do it because it somewhat takes the value of winning the championship away if you're not going to use the #1, ... That's how it's perceived certainly with the people I know in Europe. My intention would be to run it if I'm allowed. Certainly that's what I'm going to push for.
chance disagree disappears fact lose momentum pushing
The one thing I do disagree on is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely; that's a big mistake. With the momentum they've created, they shouldn't be pushing one person. If Danica disappears and does something else, you lose that momentum and the chance to push others.
buddy disagree disappear fact happen hear indy lost momentum pushing series solely time tony
The one thing I do disagree with the IRL on is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely. ... Do you hear about Buddy Rice, who is the 2004 Indy 500 champion? Do you hear about my teammate, Tony Kanaan, who is the 2004 IndyCar Series champion? You really don't. With the momentum they've created, they shouldn't be pushing one person solely at this point. ... Because if Danica should happen to disappear and do something else, then you've lost that momentum and you haven't used the momentum you've got at the time to push other people.
button coming expect forget good lane pit push race speed
I didn't expect the race to go like that, and I didn't think I'd forget to push the pit lane speed button coming into the pits. When you make an error, as long as you make up for it, it's a good day.
bit boys difficult excited help japan last league learned nice push rookie short struggled teammates until
The one thing I've learned about this league is don't get excited too soon, ... It's going to be a difficult race. My teammates are going to push me really hard. Last year, I struggled a little bit on the short ovals. The boys have been a big help to me. It's nice to have your first pole. I'm still a rookie until Japan so I have a lot to learn.
perform tomorrow
It's just practice, it doesn't matter, ... You can feel brilliant, but if you don't perform tomorrow and Sunday, you're going to be nowhere.
handle learn situation teach track
They teach you not only at the track but away from the track: how to handle yourself, how to handle yourself in a situation like I'm in now, with a big lead. There's a lot that you can learn from these guys.
leave three
I couldn't leave my three teammates. I'd feel lost.
california fifth fourth good happen obviously positions race third
I think California is going to be a really good race because obviously the championship has been decided, but second, third and fourth are up for grabs. There's going to have to be some big things happen for those positions to change. Then I think you have the fifth through 10th pretty close. I think everybody's going to be going for broke.
guess impression surprised takes whatever younger
I was kind of surprised (because) I was under the impression they were going to do it with younger kids. But I guess they want to do whatever it takes to win.
approaches fifteen
I've had probably fifteen approaches from different teams.
certainly closer good teams
I think you're certainly going to see much closer racing. But, no, these are very good teams in the IRL. I just can't stress how competitive they all are and how close it's going to be.