When Young Men Die Playing a Game

In the wake of Dan Wheldon’s inexplicable passing on Sunday in Las Vegas, I can’t help but think about other times in the recent past where young men have died entertaining an audience — times when men who are within a decade of my own age, taking a calculated risk in a game of speed and engineering, have succumbed to sheer misfortune and paid for it with their lives. It feels like I’ve had to write some pretty tough obituaries... Read More

Death of an Open-Wheel Champion

October 16, 2011 was an ominous day for open-wheel auto racing. Earlier in the day Sebastian Vettel had punctuated his second straight F1 driver championship with his tenth victory of the season, and Mark Webber’s podium finish ensured that Red Bull would also win its second manufacturer’s title. Attention turned across the Pacific to the final day of the IZOD IndyCar Series, as Dario Franchitti and Will Power were separated by just 18... Read More