Dan Wheldon Crash Video: IndyCar Makes Right Call to Cancel Las Vegas Testing

IndyCar was scheduled to test next season's new car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week but has decided to forgo that testing in light of Dan Wheldon's fatal crash on Sunday.

It was the correct decision by the racing league, which is still reeling from the tragedy.

Amy Hubbard of the Los Angeles Times relayed the decision in a blog about the investigation into Wheldon's unfortunate death.

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"Meantime, IndyCar officials on Tuesday canceled tests planned for this week of the new 2012 race car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the 33-year-old Wheldon died in a stunning 15-car crash Sunday."

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This is a scenario where the phrase “too soon?” doesn't serve as the punchline to a joke.

Wheldon's colleagues are still coping with the loss of a close friend and, by all accounts, a genuinely great guy who was taken from the world too soon.

The testing would have drawn major media attention and if anything went wrong, IndyCar would have drawn harsh criticism. The new car needs extensive testing before next year, but there will be plenty of time for that following Wheldon's memorial on Sunday.

When testing does commence, Las Vegas should be nowhere near the top of the list when it comes to testing. The track illustrated its dangers (all tracks have dangers, of course) over the weekend, and the car should be fine-tuned before hitting that track again.

Actress Ashley Judd, who is married to IndyCar superstar Dario Franchitti, tweeted her thoughts on the situation. Her husband was one of the drivers expected to participate in the testing.

Sadly, it usually takes an unfortunate incident before extra safety precautions are taken.

Hopefully the Wheldon crash leads to next season's car being the best it could possibly be, not just meeting the standards. Racing fans enjoy the occasional pile up, but it's not nearly as interesting when somebody doesn't walk away.

As the old saying goes, safety first.