Dan Wheldon Crash: Funeral to be Held Saturday (VIDEO)
IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon's funeral will be held in Florida on Saturday.
The funeral will take place in St. Petersburg, Wheldon's adopted home town. He resided there with his wife, Susie, and two young children.
Wheldon's wife invited the local community to attend the service in a statement on www.indycar.com.
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"Though we won't be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing," she said.
There will also be a public memorial service on Sunday in Indianapolis to honor Wheldon's life, IndyCar organizers have confirmed.
Wheldon's family is still trying to cope with his death.
"Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days," the driver's wife said.
She has also been overwhelmed by the support of fans.
"The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers."
The driver's father, Clive Wheldon, said in a statement Tuesday that his son "was born to be a racer and yesterday he left us doing he loved, he was a true gentleman on and off the track."
“Words cannot describe how much our family will miss him. He touched so many and the world is a better place for him having been in it. We want to thank everyone for allowing us time to grieve in private," Clive Wheldon said.
Wheldon was involved in a fiery 15-car pile-up on Sunday when his car flew over 220 miles per hour into a turn and climbed the back of another car bursting into flames.
He was quickly rushed off to the University Medical Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Three other drivers involved in the crash were hospitalized as well.
Dan Wheldon Dies in Massive Crash at Indy 300 in Las Vegas (WARNING: STRONG CONTENT):
