Wheldon's Funeral Attracts a Racing Crowd

ST. PETERSBURG—Race car driver Dan Wheldon fulfilled a dream when he won his second Indy 500 race in 2011. Now his two young sons each could have their own trophy from Dad's greatest victories.

That anecdote and many others were shared Saturday among a tight-knit group of family, friends and supporters gathered for Wheldon's funeral in his adopted hometown of St. Petersburg.

They included Dario Franchitti, another two-time Indy 500 winner, and his wife, Ashley Judd. Indy racers Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan also attended, serving as pallbearers with Franchitti. Country singer Wynnona Judd sang "Amazing Grace" to the 1,000 mourners at the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg.

Friends and family who eulogized Wheldon noted that the the racing world did not just lose a rare talent but also a rare individual. "Dan was a consumate professional who was universally loved," said Michael Johnson, the race car driver's close friend from Colorado.

"He just loved people, and they loved him right back," said Johnson. After a race, Wheldon often would stick around to thank the mechanics, pit crew and his legion of loyal fans.

Wheldon, 33, . Wheldon was considered one of the more popular IndyCar drivers, largely for the special connection he enjoyed with fans.

Wheldon, originally from Great Britian, had lived in his adopted hometown of St. Petersburg since 2006, where he married his wife, Susie Behm. When he was getting his start in auto racing, he lived in Newport Beach and .

During his funeral Saturday, a letter from Susie was read to mourners. She pledged to honor his memory every day, raising their two young sons, Oliver and Sebastian, whom Dan nicknamed "Sea Bass."

Susie Wheldon also wrote that she would cherish the last time she talked with her husband, just minutes before the Las Vegas race where he died in a 15-car pileup.

"We will honor you and make you proud," Susie Wheldon said in the letter read to mourners. "You are a true lionheart, and I will never forget our final moments together as you climbed into your car... You are part of my soul until eternity."

In keeping with Wheldon's personal approach with fans, Susie had invited supporters in St. Petersburg to attend her husband's funeral service in downtown St. Petersburg. Wheldon's good looks, outgoing nature and ease with fans made him one of IndyCar's most popular drivers.

"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," Susie Wheldon said in a written statement released to the city of St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Fans responded, lining the sidewalk outside the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg on Beach Drive. There was utter silence outdoors as supporters listened to the service, broadcast on speakers.

Many of the people gathered talked about the personal connection they felt with the racing champ. Jim Lawson, a veteran volunteer at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, recalled Wheldon driving up to him on a scooter after the race had ended.

The champ stopped and said, "Thank you."

"I looked at him and said, 'What did I do?' '' recalled Lawson. "He said, 'You're a volunteer, and you make this race happen.' ''

Erik and Hallie MacPherson of Seminole also listened to the memorial service. The couple held their young son, Evan. The MacPherson family was dressed in race-themed gear, from head to toe.

The MacPhersons, like many other fans interviewed, talked mostly about the race car driver's friendliness and approachability with fans.

"He was one of the ones who always took the time to make you feel like you were a friend," said Erik MacPherson. "He would stick around until the last picture was taken or the last kid got his autographed signed."