Wheldon was big fan of Iowa Speedway

Less than a month ago, Dan Wheldon sat in Iowa Speedway's infield, reminiscing about one of his more special achievements during about a decade of IndyCar Series racing.

He showed he was much more than a talented IndyCar driver when discussing how his friends and family enhanced his second Indianapolis 500 victory, The sport was dealt a crushing blow in its season finale Sunday when the 33-year-old Wheldon died from injuries suffered in a 15-car crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Wheldon made only three starts this season, but one was in the sports crown jewel event in May.

“I think everybody understands how much I love Indianapolis,” Wheldon said. “That whole race, the whole month, is just a phenomenal experience.”

In a season that didn't produce a full-time ride, Wheldon got the chance to compete at Indianapolis thanks to former teammate and friend Bryan Herta of Bryan Herta Autosport.

“Bryan will always be a friend to me, but I'll never forget the efforts that he went to to do the job that he did for (me) and everybody on the team,” Wheldon said. “There were decisions that he made just out of giving me the best opportunity to win aside from everything else.

“You have to respect somebody that gives you that.”

Wheldon ran that race while donning the Alzheimer's Association logo. His mother, Sue, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009 and the disease kept her from attending.

“It was particularly emotional for me,” Wheldon said. “It's been very tough on our family.

“Believe it or not, that day was my brother's birthday. The last time I won that race was my brother's birthday, too. My mother and father were with him at his family's house. Knowing I put a smile on their face I think meant more than anything to me.”

Wheldon was selected to help test the 2012 IndyCar prototype chassis by Dallara, which brought him to Iowa Speedway on Sept. 20. It was his first test on an oval.

“It's brilliant,” Wheldon said of the track. “It's a tough oval to come to and test.”

In 2008, he won the second running of the Iowa Corn IndyCar 25 and donated his earningto the victims of the Eastern Iowa floods that year.

“Iowa Speedway is deeply saddened by the tragic events that unfolded (Sunday) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With Dan Weldon's passing, racing lost a wonderful person, courageous driver and friend,” a statement from the track read. “He will be greatly missed.”