Tweet
"INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Dan Wheldon embarked on his new mission Monday — finding a job.
Less than 24 hours after JR Hildebrand's crash gave the Englishman an improbable second Indianapolis 500 title, Wheldon was contemplating his racing future. With no ride lined up for IndyCar's next two stops — Texas and Milwaukee — or any other venue this year, his season could be one and done.
"I'm unemployed. I'm unemployed," Wheldon said during his day-after victory tour. "I'm sure Bryan will do everything he can to keep me in a race car, but Bryan is an astute businessman, too."
In racing parlance, that means no sponsorship money, no ride.
For the moment, Wheldon has neither, and the sour economy isn't helping.
His contract with Bryan Herta Autosport expired at midnight, hours after a stunning victory gave the team a win in only its second Indy start. It was Wheldon's first win since 2008, and there's no guarantee Herta or Wheldon will compete again on the IndyCar circuit this season.
Herta's game plan was to run one race, Indy, then build its way into a full-time IndyCar team in 2012, a route he might still take. But Wheldon's win has changed things a bit."
Less than 24 hours after JR Hildebrand's crash gave the Englishman an improbable second Indianapolis 500 title, Wheldon was contemplating his racing future. With no ride lined up for IndyCar's next two stops — Texas and Milwaukee — or any other venue this year, his season could be one and done.
"I'm unemployed. I'm unemployed," Wheldon said during his day-after victory tour. "I'm sure Bryan will do everything he can to keep me in a race car, but Bryan is an astute businessman, too."
In racing parlance, that means no sponsorship money, no ride.
For the moment, Wheldon has neither, and the sour economy isn't helping.
His contract with Bryan Herta Autosport expired at midnight, hours after a stunning victory gave the team a win in only its second Indy start. It was Wheldon's first win since 2008, and there's no guarantee Herta or Wheldon will compete again on the IndyCar circuit this season.
Herta's game plan was to run one race, Indy, then build its way into a full-time IndyCar team in 2012, a route he might still take. But Wheldon's win has changed things a bit."
Comment