Dan Wheldon Quotations

When you think Danica grabbed the headlines, you wait until he starts. She'll be jealous of him.

The biggest thing for me is the self-satisfaction of winning the race. I don't care about who gets the most attention. I've achieved something that's very special to me.

Then as everything, like I say, things started to come together, when things started to go our way, that's when you results started to come. I was no different driver. I was certainly learning every time I went in the car.

The two championship contenders, Dario Franchitti and Will Power, are starting right next to each other in the middle of the grid. Honestly, if I can be fast enough early in the race to be able to get up there and latch onto those two, it will be pure entertainment. It's going to be a pack race, and you never know how that's going to turn out.

I haven't seen it this busy since I've been an IndyCar driver. So I think that's a great kind of thing that's happening for the IndyCar Series, in general, right now. But it's an event that I'm very proud to be part of. I love it. I can't wait to come back next year.

The last thing I want my child to see is Dad running around in the middle of the pack. That would really upset me. And that would upset him. I would be embarrassed to take him to school with kids saying, 'Hey, how'd your dad do this weekend?' 'Well, he finished fifth or sixth'.

But I have to say I'm incredibly proud of the Panther Racing National Guard Team, and in my IndyCar career there's not many races where I've honestly left the track feeling that we've executed everything perfectly. And I have to say, I thought they did an absolute phenomenal job. The pit stops were just first class.

When I think of the pace that I drove my first race, everything was happening a million miles an hour. Now when I get in the car everything happens so much slower.

Let's hope this is just the start of a lot of good things for this team.

Scott and I already were talking that we want to make a big impact next year. That's a goal. I had a lot of success this season, and I'm looking to do the same (in '06). It will be a very exciting season in general. There will be a lot of competitive cars, so we'll have to be on top of our game.

She's proved herself enough. It's not like she's looked at as a female on track. She's just another driver and a very good one at that.

On a difficult day like today, everybody came together and I think put on a great show.

Obviously, Wrigley Field is similar to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in that it has that same mystique to it, ... I don't follow baseball too much, but I know how cool that stadium is and the history and heritage behind it.

My goal coming into this season was to win the Indy 500. When I achieved that, I had to adjust my mindset, and the goals I had for myself. Obviously, winning the championship was the next goal.

Now when we get to Watkins Glen, that's going to be the slowest lap in history. I'm going to tell the team not to expect me to set a flyer on that first one.

I couldn't leave my three teammates. I'd feel lost.

I anticipate a really good race because, even though the championship is decided in my favor, second, third and fourth places are still up for grabs,

I look forward to proving a point to him.

I look forward to the rest of the season, but until it's mathematically impossible for anybody to catch me I'm going to keep trying to do the same.

I had a Sonoma race where I was disappointed in the result, ... I wanted to make amends for that. That was the longest period of time I've ever had between races. From the last race of the year to the first race of the next season is a long time. It felt a lot longer than that.

I felt a lot of pressure with the championship and my contract situation, ... To have one of them off my shoulders is a good feeling.

I don't think it's going to be as close as people are making out. I honestly think it's going to be between five or six cars, and they are going to be some ways ahead of everybody else.

Well, you know, she was something different. But I don't begrudge her anything. I can look back at what I've accomplished with my team this year and be very happy. And, I suspect, she feels the same.

I achieved a lot at Andretti Green Racing,

It certainly affects me when you see an accident like that. It's not the nicest thing at all,

I think you're certainly going to see much closer racing. But, no, these are very good teams in the IRL. I just can't stress how competitive they all are and how close it's going to be.

I think California is going to be a really good race because obviously the championship has been decided, but second, third and fourth are up for grabs. There's going to have to be some big things happen for those positions to change. Then I think you have the fifth through 10th pretty close. I think everybody's going to be going for broke.

I think this championship means a great deal to Kim, ... I came in relatively inexperienced with just a couple of races for Panther under my belt. I soaked info from my teammates and it's great to repay Kim's faith in me with this championship.

I was kind of surprised (because) I was under the impression they were going to do it with younger kids. But I guess they want to do whatever it takes to win.

Last year, and I'm praising Honda here at the expense of Andretti Green Racing, we perhaps didn't work as hard on the car as we perhaps needed to, because we had the traction control. Now, everybody's got the same, so you've got to make sure your car is very good.

My three teammates have really helped me, and I thank them for that. It's an unbelievable feeling to have this after winning the Indy 500 because that means so much to me. You think you're asking for too much for a championship. It's taken all the energy out of me.

My primary goal coming into the season was to win the Indianapolis 500,

I think for sure being chased is the position I want to be in. It does add pressure to the situation, and it's (a matter of) having the right people around you to guide you in the right direction and maintain focus. When you're leading, it's certainly a nice feeling.

I think Jenson somewhat screwed me up there,

I think I've explained earlier on in the year that I kind of underestimated how important experience was in this series, especially when you're up against such good quality drivers.

I thought I could do it sometime in my career, but certainly not this soon.

I wasn't pissed. I had just realized a dream of 10 years.

Winning the Indianapolis 500 was very special to me, ... but winning six races is something I'll look back on and think that was a strong season.

We push each other hard, ... We never give an inch. For instance, at the open test at Phoenix International Raceway last winter, I set a fast time and then Dario, Tony and Bryan all went out to better it and did. We always work on improvement and, as competitive as we've been, the friendships between us make it all work.

Well, it was a win obviously under very difficult circumstances. I think certainly my thoughts and prayers and everybody here, their thoughts are with the Dana family and everybody at Rahal Letterman Racing. It's very difficult to race under circumstances like this. I think everybody in the community and the fans that came out to Homestead-Miami Speedway today should be commended for the effect that they have on the drivers to pull through under very difficult circumstances.

We had an aggressive setup and were very quick in traffic. Once underway, the car was very, very good. This is a fun place to race and win and to take Sam's record is truly special.

Today was a very disappointing day. We had some serious fueling problems throughout the race. Unfortunately, we were not able to get the finish we needed and that is very frustrating. We obviously lost some ground toward the championship, which makes Chicago a very important race. I'm hoping we can get back in the swing of things.

To win six races is something I'll look back on and think that was a strong season.

Those guys, particularly Scott, did just a great job. It's another good win to add to the Indy 500. It's amazing.

To be chased is the position that I prefer to be in,

We're not too worried about it because you don't get points for qualifying. We know we've got a strong package and I'm looking forward to defending my win here and start the season off on the right foot.

We obviously lost some ground toward the championship, which makes Chicago a very important race, ... I'm hoping we can get back in the swing of things.

This track is a challenge, that's best thing I can say about it, and drivers like challenges. I think I speak for all the drivers (in the IRL) when I say we can't wait to come out here. It's a great racetrack and the fans have also been great.

We didn't get everything we wanted to out of our qualifying run. The Klein Tools/Jim Beam car definitely had a little bit too much understeer and that cost us. It's so competitive out here that you've got to gamble a little bit, but we have a relatively good race car, so hopefully we'll get a good result.

To tell you the truth, it looked very, very bad.

To tell you the truth, I'm surprised Honda paid so much to get Jenson out of his Williams deal because I personally think that if you give me the right time, I can certainly be as good, if not better. I'm sure every driver thinks that, but I certainly believe I can be as good.

There are rivalries out there. There's people that want to beat one another. There are people with points to prove. But on a difficult day like today, everybody came together and put on a great show.

But, no, I don't think there will be any kind of problem as far as setting up to be competitive, but you've got to get it right if you want to be the first one across the line.

Both series have great events. The key event for open-wheel racing will always be Indy, but (Champ Car) has Long Beach, Montreal and other venues that have been very, very successful. If they come together, it will be better for everybody.

Tony and I did it to the Penskes earlier in the weekend in practice. If you've got two cars running in line very close to each other, you can pick up speed like that. It felt strange running up there by myself, because I'm used to having Tony or one of my other teammates around. But I had a strong enough engine to hold them off.

This team has a great history; it wins the big races. And that's what I love to do.

To join the list of names that have won championships and the Indy 500 in the same season would be pretty special, ... Those are all people I respect immensely. To be listed in the same category as them is a nice feeling.

To have won the Indy 500 and the championship is very special.

What's very important is our thoughts and prayers are with the Dana family. It's a sad day. Just a very, very sad day. It's difficult under such difficult circumstances. It's a job that can be pretty vicious at times. Hopefully we put on a good race.

To win both in the same year I think is an unbelievable achievement. I thought I would be able to do it in my career, but not so early. You think you're asking for too much for a championship. It's taken all the energy out of me.

We are going to have a good party for this, and it will be on Bryan's tab.

I seem to win a lot of Honda's special races, ... I hope (Honda) is going to sponsor the Indy 500 next year because I love that race.

I've certainly got three teammates that are going to feature strongly. I'm going to have to rely on them for some help.

It was very difficult to race under these circumstances. It's a job, and it can be pretty vicious at times.

It was very difficult to race under circumstances like this. This is a job that can be pretty vicious at times with a lot of highs mixed in.

It was an up-and-down day. My pace just wasn't consistent and that's what cost me.

The superspeedways, with the cars we have at Andretti Green Racing, you can get to the front pretty quick,

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dana family and all of Rahal Letterman racing. It's a very, very sad day. I think hopefully we put on a good race.

The one thing I've learned about this league is don't get excited too soon, ... It's going to be a difficult race. My teammates are going to push me really hard. Last year, I struggled a little bit on the short ovals. The boys have been a big help to me. It's nice to have your first pole. I'm still a rookie until Japan so I have a lot to learn.

The one thing I do disagree with the IRL on is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely. ... Do you hear about Buddy Rice, who is the 2004 Indy 500 champion? Do you hear about my teammate, Tony Kanaan, who is the 2004 IndyCar Series champion? You really don't. With the momentum they've created, they shouldn't be pushing one person solely at this point. ... Because if Danica should happen to disappear and do something else, then you've lost that momentum and you haven't used the momentum you've got at the time to push other people.

The one thing I do disagree with the IRL is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely. I think that's a big mistake on their part.

The one thing I do disagree on is the fact that they are pushing Danica solely; that's a big mistake. With the momentum they've created, they shouldn't be pushing one person. If Danica disappears and does something else, you lose that momentum and the chance to push others.

As competitive as all of us have been, the relationships have stayed very, very close, and that has been a very enjoyable experience for me. We push each other harder than anyone else out there. Our goal for next year is to all stay together and stay the winning team that we have become.

That's what really got me passionate about American motor sports. Ever since that point, I've kind of aspired to being out here.

That's not true. But you're on the right track.

This has been a dream come true for me. The best drivers in the world and the best teams in the world are here and I'm just so proud...Thank you everybody.

They teach you not only at the track but away from the track: how to handle yourself, how to handle yourself in a situation like I'm in now, with a big lead. There's a lot that you can learn from these guys.

A lot of the hard work was done at Chicago, but until you finally clinch it, I don't think you feel like you have. I'm ecstatic.

It's just practice, it doesn't matter, ... You can feel brilliant, but if you don't perform tomorrow and Sunday, you're going to be nowhere.

It was difficult. There were laps where we certainly had to breathe and back all the way out of the throttle.

It's a challenge. Everybody believes that. Physically and mentally, it's tough. It awards you, though.

It's very difficult to race under these circumstances.

It is their (the management company's) job to be looking into all of the options for my future and making sure they are right. They certainly did have contact with different teams in different series. That's just part of business, though, ... I'm working on a deal with Andretti Green right now. I'm working on getting something that is fair for both sides. At the same time, if somebody approaches you, you can't just tell them no. You're going to listen to what they say. For me, the most important thing is to be happy and win races.

Dario is certainly going to be very, very strong on the road courses as Tony will. I've certainly got three teammates that are going to feature strongly. I think certainly with my experience level right now on the road courses, which is somewhat limited, I'm going to have to rely on them for some help.

The nicest thing is that I'm going to be able to sleep now,

You think you're asking too much to win the championship, too,

That statistic of most race wins in a season is something pretty special to me. I love the Indianapolis 500, and that's always going to be my favorite race in the world, and it's going to be one of the fondest memories of my life, but that statistic somewhat means as much to a championship for me.

It's still mathematically possible for a lot of people to beat me. If you can win a championship and win a lot of races on the way, that would be pretty special. I would love to get six wins.

The biggest thing having the same engine in every car is stability and the series needs that right now. It's the same for everybody.

It looked very, very bad, ... It's not nice to think about. I think a lot of us will certainly stop by and see if we can see him this evening.

It's difficult in this series, ... To have won six is a very proud moment for me. To win six races is something I'll look back on and think that was a strong season.

It's difficult to race under such circumstances. It's a job and it can be pretty vicious at times. But there can be a lot of highs as well.

It wasn't as good a throw as the one I did at Shea Stadium; it was a little high, ... This was more of an English cricket throw than a pitch. I was throwing it a little high on purpose to show them I had a different pitch than the one I did at Shea Stadium. It just dropped about 10 feet too late.

It was much better than the one at Wrigley Field. My best one was still the first one at Shea Stadium, but I didn't bounce it in. I put it right in the glove and there was a little pop. I had to do a good one because (Tampa Bay's) my home team. I had to impress.

I've had probably fifteen approaches from different teams.

They like the wine. I didn't see a sober (sponsor).

It was Herta's day. It's very good to see him in Victory Lane.

It was just one of those things. The qualifying effort didn't seem that bad. I don't know where the speed was. It was kind of a disappointing run, really. It kills you to lose time from the practice sessions. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the car. We just weren't particularly quick today.

It was a fantastic event. There were fantastic people that I met, and the presentations were very interesting.

They will never give me equal treatment because I'm the baby of the team, ... My rental car has probably lost its tires by now.