IndyCar community say goodbye to fellow race driver Dan Wheldon

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Fans sign a banner during the Dan Wheldon memorial, 'A Celebration of the Life of Dan Wheldon,' at Conseco Fieldhouse on October 23, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Wheldon was killed in a crash during an …
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Posted: 10/22/2011

by Mark Long, AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS - INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The IndyCar community shed tears and shared laughs Sunday in tribute to two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon.

The 87-minute public memorial service brought together Wheldon's former teammates, close friends, former business associates and even his wife, Susie, attended.

Wheldon was killed in a fiery 15-car crash last week at Las Vegas.

In a video message from Wheldon's father, the family thanked fans and friends for offering notes their support. But much of the service was dedicated to story-telling.

Three of Wheldon's closest friends, drivers Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and team owner Bryan Herta, recounted tales of Wheldon's infamous pranks and his zest for life. And two of Wheldon's business managers talked about how much they'd seen Wheldon change between his Indy win in 2005 and his win in May.

He was buried in a private funeral service following Saturday's public memorial at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg.