A SECTION OF Florida’s IndyCar circuit has been renamed Dan Wheldon Way in memory of the late driver.
Wheldon died in October last year, aged 33, after crashing during the last race of the 2011 IndyCar world championship at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
On Wednesday, the corner of Bayshore Drive and Albert Whitted Park on the St Petersburg circuit was renamed after Wheldon, a venue where he won en route to victory in the 2005 championship.
“The thing about Turn 10 is that it’s our signature turn,” St Petersburg Grand Prix Vice-President Tim Ramsberger said.
“It’s a picturesque view of our beautiful downtown waterfront. It’s probably one of the best competitive turns that we have on the racetrack and you can ask the drivers about that.”
It’s just a beautiful setting here, not only for race weekend but on a year-round basis, so we thought it appropriate to have this occasion here and have this unveiling today and that special relevance is to Dan.”
Wheldon’s widow Susie expressed her thanks to the drivers and officials who gathered in St Petersburg to pay tribute to her late husband.
“What a beautiful gift to be part of his legacy and something that we can all cherish for years to come,” she said.
“Sebastian and Oliver (Wheldon’s children) will be so proud to know the impact their father had on this community and the world of motor sport, so thank you.”
“Thank you to all of the drivers for being here and just to everybody that had a part in making this happen today, thank you so much.”
The 2012 IndyCar world championship begins in St Petersburg, Florida, on March 25.
