Dan Wheldon Crash Video: Officials Defending Racetrack Doesn't Make It Safe

IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died from injuries he sustained in a 15-car pile up on Sunday, and naturally officials of Las Vegas Speedway defended their racetrack, but it still doesn't change the fact that it will take a long time for people to feel safe out there again. 

Wheldon was a winner, but more importantly he was a husband, father and beloved by all his fellow drivers. 

You can't blame anyone for his death because it was a tragic accident, and all drivers know that anything is possible when racing at 220 mph. 

Las Vegas Speedway President Chris Powell did what he had to do after the crash to protect the integrity of his track. Per ABC News:

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"We as a speedway make sure we provide a venue that they come in and make an assessment when they're ready to race—and they did that exact thing," Powell said late Monday. "Our speedway conforms to every regulation that any sanctioning body has ever held it to, and we're very proud of that." 

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One would hope that Powell and his staff take the correct measures before every race, and I get that he's just saying what he has to say here.

However, when other drivers feel the track isn't entirely safe before the race ever occurred you know there's something wrong.

Now that Wheldon has passed away because of a crash on this dangerous track, drivers will feel iffy about racing there for quite some time.

It's small track, and Scott Meadow described the environment of the track as, "more like 30 airplanes racing together than cars." (ABC News) 

Plus, the race on Sunday had more drivers than it probably should have because of it's large purse. 

IndyCar chairman Randy Bernard had announced a $5 million payday for whoever could win the race. That of course enticed a number of drivers, and Wheldon was one of them.

The prize money ultimately led to 34 entries in the field, which is more than the Indianapolis 500 had, and that track is flatter and quite longer than Las Vegas. 

Famed driver Dario Franchitti told reporters after the crash but before he learned of Wheldon's death that the track just isn't safe. 

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"This is not a suitable track, and we seen it today its nowhere to get away from anybody. One small mistake from somebody and there's a massive thing." (ABC News)

"I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff," Franchitti said. "I love hard racing, but that to me is not really what it's about." (Associated Press)

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Crashes are indeed a part of the sport, and all drivers know this. But when you jam-pack an already small track you're just asking for trouble. 

A woman lost her husband on Sunday and children lost their father. It was a tragedy, and it will be hard for the racetrack to recover, no matter what anyone says to defend it.