British driver Dan Wheldon killed in huge IndyCar pile-up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway circuit

Motor racing was in mourning last night after the death of British driver Dan Wheldon in a crash at the Las Vegas 300 Indy car series finale.

The 33 year-old from Emberton, Olney, died from injuries he received in the 15-car accident. His vehicle was sent airborne over another car and clipped the fencing surrounding the track.

He was one of the most successful drivers in America and twice winner of the Indianapolis 500, the sport’s showpiece event, in 2005 and 2011.

During his early career in open wheel racing, Wheldon had a rivalry with Jenson Button. Several cars were sent flying while others careered down the track in flames last night.

“IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries,” IndyCar chief executive Randy Bernard said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today.”

Wheldon’s fellow drivers had been informed of his death shortly before Bernard made his public announcement.

“IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race. In honour of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five-lap salute in his honour,” Bernard said.

The crash coming out of Turn 2 of the 1.5 mile-Las Vegas oval on the 12th lap of the race left Townsend Bell’s car upside down and smoking cars and debris strewn around the track.

“I’ve never seen such a mess in my entire career on the race track,” said Danica Patrick, who was in her final race as a full-time IndyCar driver before heading to NASCAR stock car racing.

Canadian driver Paul Tracy called it “an horrendous accident”. Earlier, he had reported that a medical team was frantically attending Wheldon before the driver was airlifted to hospital.

The official confirmation of his death came two hours after the race was eventually stopped.

Despite two Indianapolis 500 triumphs and his 2005 series title, Wheldon has not been able to secure a full-time IndyCar ride, so he was racing from the back of the field in pursuit of a $5 million (£3.2 million) prize offered by IndyCar to a non-series driver who could win the finale.

The crash ended Australian Will Power’s bid to overtake Dario Franchitti and claim the series title. Power sat stunned in his car and was later sent to hospital to be checked out because of back pain.

Scotland’s Franchitti, who secured his third straight series crown and fourth overall after Power was ruled out, could be seen fighting for composure in his cockpit as the drivers formed up for the tribute laps.

“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. You saw what happened, one small mistake from somebody.”

There were 34 cars entered in the season finale – one more entry than at the Indianapolis 500 at the bigger Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Drivers had voiced concern about the high speeds being reached at Las Vegas, where they were close to 225 miles per hour in practice this week.

“I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ryan Briscoe said of the sight of burning cars spinning on the track and sailing through the air.

“The debris we all had to drive through the lap later, it looked like a war scene from [the film] Terminator or something. I mean, there were just pieces of metal and car on fire in the middle of the track with no car attached to it and just debris everywhere.”

Dan Wheldon factfile

1978: June 22 - Born in Olney, Buckinghamshire.

1982: Takes up karting.

1999: Wins United States F2000 championship and is named 'Rookie of the Year'.

2000: Named Toyota Atlantic 'Rookie of the Year'.

2001: Wins CART Dayton Indy Lights 'Rookie of the Year' award.

2002: Makes IndyCar debut with Panther Racing.

2003: Named IndyCar 'Rookie of the Year' for Andretti Green Racing.

2004: Finishes season second in the points standings.

2005: Wins the marquee Indianapolis 500 race, becoming the first Englishman to do so since Graham Hill in 1966. Claims IndyCar drivers' championship in second full season.

2006: Finishes runner-up in the drivers' championship after a tie-breaker.

2009: Finishes second at Indianapolis 500 after starting from 18th.

2010: Comes second again at Indianapolis 500.

2011: Joins Bryan Herta Autosport after leaving Panther Racing. May - Wins Indianapolis 500 to claim his first win on the circuit in three seasons. October 16 - Killed in final IndyCar race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada.