Indian GP champions dedicate victory to Wheldon, Simoncelli
October 30th, 2011 - 10:48 pm ICT by IANSGreater Noida, Oct 30 (IANS) In their moment of triumph, the inaugural Indian Grand Prix’s champion drivers Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso dedicated their wins to British IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon and Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli, who lost their lives on the race track this month.
An emotional Vettel, who won the 11th race of the season, said he had mixed emotions after winning the first Indian GP.
“I have mixed emotions because this is the first Indian Grand Prix but looking back at last weekend we lost two of our mates. I didn’t know Dan Wheldon but I got to know Marco Simoncelli this year and our thoughts are with them,” he said.
Asked if the two deaths affected them mentally, Vettel said: “We take great risks when we jump in the car and we hope nothing happens but you are reminded of these things, so our thoughts are with them.”
McLaren’s Button, who finished second, dedicated the race to Wheldon and Simoncelli. In a mark of respect to his compatriot, Button had Wheldon’s DW logo on top of his helmet and also wore a black arm band to mourn the death of his close friend.
“We’ve had two fatalities and it’s very difficult. I knew Dan from a young age - so I think we should dedicate this first Indian race to Dan and to Marco, who was the most amazing man to watch on a bike,” he said.
Alonso, who had watched Simoncelli’s fatal crash at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia last weekend, also had mixed feelings. The Ferrari driver on his helmet had a sticker sporting No.58, Simoncelli’s Honda number.
“As Seb and Jenson said, it’s mixed feelings with these being sad weeks for motorsport and we all raced for them (Dan and Marco) today. We’re always remembering these two fantastic people,” he said.
The 33-year-old Wheldon, a former rival of Button and his Red Bull team mate Mark Webber, was killed during the season ending IndyCar racing after he was involved in a fatal 15-car pileup in Las Vegas, Oct 16.
The following Sunday the world watched aghast the death of Simoncelli, who was struck by other bikes after he fell at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
- Formula One drivers pay tributes to Wheldon and Simoncelli - Oct 29, 2011
- No worries about safety at Indian GP: Ecclestone - Oct 24, 2011
- Formula One is safe: Sutil - Oct 24, 2011
- Moto GP rider Simoncelli dies after horrific crash at Sepang (Lead) - Oct 23, 2011
- Vettel wins a near perfect race, Sutil finishes ninth (Roundup) - Oct 30, 2011
- Red Bull's Vettel wins Australian Grand Prix - Mar 27, 2011
- Webber pips Vettel as Red Bull stay unbeaten in qualifying - May 08, 2010
- Alonso not to rely on other drivers slipping up to win Australian Grand Prix - Mar 26, 2010
- Hamilton eyes victories in Abu Dhabi, Brazil - Nov 06, 2011
- MotoGP still a distant dream for Indian riders: Mahindra Racing - Nov 15, 2011
- Untouchable Vettel wins Indian GP - Oct 30, 2011
- Vettel tops Webber, Red Bull dominate British GP qualifier - Jul 10, 2010
- Red Bull's Vettel wins European Grand Prix - Jun 27, 2010
- Vettel wins maiden Monaco Grand Prix, Force India seventh - May 30, 2011
- MotoGP: Simoncelli's body returns to Italy - Oct 26, 2011
Tags: arm band, car pileup, compatriot, dan wheldon, fatal crash, fernando alonso, ferrari driver, indycar, jenson button, mark webber, mate mark, mixed emotions, mixed feelings, motogp, oct 30, red bull, seb, sebastian vettel, sepang circuit, team mate