On the 20-year anniversary of ‘s victory within the inaugural Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the late sequence legend’s spouse and oldest son will play main roles in serving to kick off the 2025 season.
Sebastian, the 16-year-old who’s adopted in his father’s footsteps (alongside along with his youthful brother, Oliver), will drive one of many Honda Civic Kind R tempo vehicles throughout the race’s parade laps. Simply as Sebastian pulls into the pits with the 27 Indy vehicles trailing behind readying to kick off the 100-lapper, his mom, Susie, will likely be standing atop the flag stand, waving the inexperienced flag to sign the beginning of the race.
The honorary roles come at a observe and in a metropolis that had turn out to be . Wheldon’s victory on the streets of St. Pete in 2005 was his second in a season the place he’d rattle off six, and that victory sparked a three-race successful streak capped by his first of two profession Indianapolis 500 victories. His 2005 marketing campaign would additionally finish in his solely IndyCar title, a championship he clinched earlier than the final race of the yr.
His accomplishments are remembered with landmarks contained in the paddock space, together with a stretch of the circuit often known as ‘Dan Wheldon Manner,’ in addition to . In that 2005 race, his staff on the time, Andretti Inexperienced Racing, put collectively a 1-2-3-4 sweep that includes Tony Kanaan (2nd-place), Dario Franchitti (third) and Bryan Herta (4th).
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“St. Petersburg was Dan’s adopted hometown and stays residence for the boys and I. For him to win the inaugural race right here in 2005 was one thing particular,” Susie Wheldon mentioned in a launch. “To be right here with Sebastian and Oliver 20 years later — and for Sebastian to be driving a tempo automotive within the parade lap — can be a full circle second. And I’m honored to wave the inexperienced flag for the beginning of the race.
“I’ve to thank (race promoters) Kim (Inexperienced) and Kevin (Savoree) and the whole IndyCar household for at all times making the boys and I really feel supported. We’re trying ahead to an thrilling race weekend.”
The 2005 race additionally marked the primary occasion that Inexperienced and Savoree promoted collectively for an organization (Inexperienced Savoree Racing Promotions) that for a number of years has hosted 4 races on the IndyCar calendar and continues operating St. Pete. The 2005 St. Pete version was additionally the Indy Racing League’s first avenue race.
“Having Susie and Sebastian taking up these necessary roles brings again lots of terrific reminiscences and likewise reminds us how a lot we’ve discovered over 20 years of organizing this race,” mentioned Inexperienced, who in 2005 was a co-owner of Wheldon’s Andretti staff. “Dan was a fantastic racing champion of this occasion, the Indy 500 and the IndyCar sequence. Kevin and I labored with Dan for the preliminary three years of his full-time IndyCar profession. It was a time full of lots of wins and many enjoyable. We miss Dan.”
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Within the wake of that included 4 wins and 9 podiums in 16 begins, , tackling the Italian Method 4 championship, in addition to the E4 championship. and gained the Skip Barber Race Sequence championship final fall, although it is presently unclear what his racing plans could also be for 2025.
The Wheldon boys stay focal factors of Andretti International’s driver improvement program — a program they each joined 4 years in the past .
