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“He had plenty of racing left in his career. It is tragic to see someone lose their life in this way.”
Wheldon was born in the Olney area of Buckinghamshire on 22 June, 1978.
He took up karting at the age of four, enjoying success as he progressed through the junior ranks during his school years.
Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson, who raced against Wheldon, called him the ‘Michael Schumacher’ of the karting world.
Wheldon also enjoyed a rivalry with Button during his younger years but this was not to be replicated in Formula 1.
In 1999, at the age of 21, Wheldon moved to the US, claiming he could not get the level of investment needed to progress his career in the United Kingdom.
He impressed in the US F2000 series before being called up to the IRL’s Panther Racing squad as a test driver in 2002 and then switching to Andretti Green Racing as one of their main drivers.
In March 2003, Wheldon escaped unharmed from a 220mph crash in the Indianapolis 500.
With just 14 laps remaining, he spun into the concrete retaining wall and flew through the air before landing upside down on the tarmac.
“I think the accident looks more spectacular than it really is,” he said afterwards. “All in all, I think it was a good race and it is just unfortunate that happened at the end.”
Wheldon sealed Rookie of the Year honours in 2003 and then recorded three wins the following year as he finished second in the series championship.
Things got even better in 2005, when he claimed a series-record six victories, becoming the first driver since the start of the IRL in 1996 to win the Indy 500 and the series championship in the same year.
After winning the Indianapolis 500, a delighted Wheldon said: “This has been a dream come true for me. I’ve loved the Indy 500 ever since I was a little kid in England.
“The best drivers and the best teams in the world are here. I don’t think winning the event and being an Indy 500 champion has quite sunk in yet.”
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