Dan Wheldon Crash: Danica Patrick, Ashley Judd and Racing Community's Reaction

Words can't explain how the racing community feels today.

Knowing that someone who was so dearly loved by the racing world perished as his car went airborne brings tears to your eyes.

To make matters worse, this was just another in a long line of tragedies that have rocked the sports world this year.

William Caviness collapsed and perished just a few feet from the finish line at the Chicago Marathon. The Lokomotiv hockey team fell victim to a horrific plane crash in Russia. Hockey players Wade Belak and Derek Boogaard were both found dead earlier this year as well.

Like Caviness, Wheldon passed away doing what he loved.

Wheldon was just months removed from his incredible come-from-behind victory at the Indianapolis 500, when his car collided and went flying into the fence. The scene is horrific and looks more like a war zone than an IndyCar race.

The entire racing community has reacted with their condolences. From Danica Patrick to Jeff Gordon, it appears that everyone is coming together during this emotional time.

The first form of tribute came from the drivers themselves in the immediate aftermath. The drivers who were not impacted by the crash returned to the track to honor Wheldon with a five-lap tribute to their fallen friend.

Everyone involved in the motorsports world was deeply affected by this accident, including Ashley Judd, the wife of Dario Franchetti. She honored Wheldon on her Twitter page with a poem that came to mind.

All of the IndyCar drivers, including Danica Patrick, Alex Tagliani, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti were devastated as they reacted after the race in interviews with ABC.

Wheldon's friends IndyCar driver Alex Lloyd and ESPN's Jamie Little were shocked and saddened by their loss.

NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon was also deeply saddened after the race. He called Wheldon both a great driver and a great person.

Franchitti, who was great friends with Wheldon, wants everyone to keep the Wheldon family in their prayers.

Wheldon's death has not just impacted the racers and their families, but the fans as well. Fans have created a makeshift memorial at the Indianapolis Speedway and spoke about the racer as a person.

NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne still can't get Wheldon out of his mind.

Adrian Fernandez of FernandezRacing.com spoke with Wheldon and other racers before the race, and he said they all seemed afraid of the track. He said that none of them felt comfortable, and that he could feel their fear before the race.

Racing legend Michael Andretti tweeted about how huge of a loss it is for the racing world.

Meanwhile, NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin expressed how Wheldon wouldn't be forgotten.

Everyone is coming together during this incredibly difficult time. This is a tight-knit fraternity, and they are going to stick together.

They will go out there and race again, but this is a time for weeping and reflection.

With all that in mind, let's honor Wheldon with this tribute video.

The Orlando Sentinel has drawn eerie comparisons to the fate that befell another racing legend a decade ago. 

The report tells of a dark foreboding that came before the official announcement of Dan Wheldon's death. Dale Earnhardt Jr. released a statement of his won following the tragedy in Las Vegas. The statement echoes the sentiments of everyone that knew Wheldon, a truly great man. 

ESPN reports the corner has released the cause of death for Dan Wheldon. The corner concluded the death was a, "result of blunt trauma to the head due to motor vehicle collision."