A SAD WEEK FOR MOTORSPORT

It was a dark October for motorsport, as it lost two of its shining stars. We pay homage to these two incredible talents

While most of us have an insatiable desire for speed – more often than not, we forget the fact that speed can be dangerous, if not lethal. In October, the world of motorsport lost two of its shining stars – Dan Wheldon and Marc-20The tragic week started on October 16th, when 33 year-old Englishman, Dan Wheldon, competing in the season finale of the Indy Racing League, and fighting for the championship, found himself in a 15-car wreck on the 13th lap at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dan’s car flew into the air and crashed straight into the wall at great speed. And despite the latest safety features, the impact was so severe that Dan succumbed to his injuries soon after.

Dan Wheldon was one of the most talented drivers in motorsports, and won 16 Indy Car races. He was also the 2003 rookie of the year, and was a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 – including the 2011 edition of this legendary race.

A week later, at the Sepang MotoGP race, Italian rider, Marco Simoncelli – one of the most colorful riders in the MotoGP – met his end in a terrible crash on just the second lap of the race. Simoncelli, who was known for his aggressive riding style, lost control on a right-hander, and fell straight in the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. Somehow, Simoncelli’s helmet came undone, and the other two bikes had nowhere to go but over the Italians body – causing massive damage to his chest, neck, and head. Simoncelli died soon after, and the Sepang MotoGP race was cancelled. Simoncelli was just 24 years old, and had already won many titles – including the 250GP Championship.

With our deepest sympathies, autoX offers its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli. These two shining stars will never be forgotten, and it’s a lesson for us mere mortals that even an exciting and desirable sport can, at times, have unfortunate and devastating consequences. We salute the brave competitors in all forms of motorsport, as they willing face the ultimate sacrifice to compete in the sport that they love.