Dario Franchitti: Devastated by friend’s death

Dario Franchitti remembers the fatal crash of friend and racer Dan Wheldon, who Franchitti had known since he was six. Franchitti also reflects on the overall safety of IndyCar today and drivers accepting the calculated risk.
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Episode debuted nationwide in 2014.
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[@danieldangelo7937]

Dario is one of my favourite drivers. I met Greg Moore at the Toronto Indy back in 95 A great kid RIP Greg Moore and Dan Wheldon.

[@shelovescesarr]

October 16 2011.. Just a nightmare day for Motorsports.. I'll never forget that day.. I will just never.. R.I.P Dan Wheldon.

[@ericmarchesini4883]

Cesaar same here.

[@matthans8871]

Same here. I was having a really good day to that point and had actually won some money in some racing I participate in. Got in the house to watch the race and over the course of an hour went from a great day to just being shellshocked. Rest of the day and night was just eerie this weird sense of nothingness.

[@johnfritzenjr.1240]

This man is a legend

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Dario developed PTSD afterwards. He was not the same driver again. Yes, there were some reliability issues, but he was clearly haunted. I’m glad he has found peace in retirement and fatherhood, and continues to work with Chip Ganassi. Dario, you’re a legend. Always a fan. RIP DAN

[@JasonK1982]

You can tell he is hurting just talking about it

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

I think he has PTSD. I wouldn’t be surprised at all. The first minutes of this, he looked like he was experiencing wartime flashbacks.

[@ryand141]

Motorsport can hardly be compared to war.

[@coreycaudle8291]

Got to meet Dario last year he’s a very humble guy

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

I noticed Elio de Angelis JPS Lotus in the background. RIP Dan and Elio. Both true gentleman. 🙏

[@shannon9155]

That first wife of his was just plain nuts!

[@averagegiuseppe5640]

A total nutter!!

[@brianfeldmann4910]

What in the fuck is this guy thinking asking Dario this? Do you know anything?! Good grief. It was his best friend. Worst day of his life. Jesus, what do you expect him to say.

[@upthereds1892]

As soon as he said the tracks have a long way to go my brain immediately went to wickens crash at Pocono

[@Coastfog]

Paul Tracy said right after Dan Wheldons death that the next big thing to take care of are the catch fences. He was damn right. You can't have a fricking cheese grater as a line of defense for 200mph cars.

[@dawnchristensen7492]

Was watching that race, so sad, then Dario broke his back and retired.

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

He wasn’t the same driver after that. A combination of reliability issues and the ghost of Dan Wheldon. I was actually relieved that he retired when he did.

[@lindsayferguson6388]

Met dario in 2001 and 2002 when he drove in carts at rockingham motor speedway as I worked there ❤

[@dawnchristensen7492]

Keep on the safety!

[@oscarkoop2548]

I think if Weldon had a halo on his car he would have made it through the accident

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

I agree. Badly injured. Possibly career-ending. But he would have made it.

[@LB-ty6ks]

I don't see the point in this type of question. How do you suppose he felt?

[@evearcana2392]

I feel like these questions are for history. In his own words. Long after we’re all gone future generations will have these interviews in peoples own words from their own mouths. Of course we know the answers but to hear it from the person is what history will remember

[@KitCalder]

@@evearcana2392 That's a very thoughtful take

[@Ranee1866]

Dario is smoking hot!

[@fredrikrugby]

Jesus that interviewer sounds like he just woke up

[@jimmy_jamesjams_a_lot4171]

I feel as though many people don’t even count the deaths of motor sports drivers as deaths. When I consider death when it’s a consequence of decisions made in life, I always think that this way of passing on is something that puts a meaning to life and fulfills life and gives it value that I might not have given it had I thought that I would die from just sitting around. So for that reason I guess that I’m found jealous of people like Rich Vogler, or Mr. Wheldon. I think a lot of people are forgetful of the absence of those who have left with us some semblance of a meaningful life. And seeing this really convinces me that Mr. Franchitti is an honest human being, too. Thanks for uploading!!

[@hooternascarcupseries7339]

He is at Barber!!

[@sayuncle9631]

Dario wanted to beat your ass for asking those questions! Especially bringing up Greg. Do better

[@joshherman4214]

I think Greg's death hit Dario harder... IMO

[@kevt4222]

50 second ad !! KZbin is getting worse, do they not know ads are so fucking annoying to everyone

[@86markb]

Graham Bensinger is such a stooge.

[@dealerovski82]

Wonder if he seen the movie Days of thunder before this.

[@cynthiariordan1046]

Why?

[@dealerovski82]

@@cynthiariordan1046 He's living it page by page?

[@slabbusterrtr7690]

Death trap cars

[@glockspecific7757]

Politically correct non genuine answer to the safety of the car!

[@dawnchristensen7492]

Tracks wider please.

[@PaTRpU99]

What else would you want him to say?