IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died in a horrific 15-car crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries, IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race. In honor of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five-lap salute in his honor.

The 33-year-old, a two-time winner of the Indy 500, was involved in the multi-car accident 13 laps into the Las Vegas Indy 300; his vehicle was sent flying over another car and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2. He was airlifted from the track to University Medical Center, where he died about two hours later.

One minute you're joking around at driver intros. The next, Dan's gone, said Dario Franchitti, whose wife, actress Ashley Judd, brought him a box of tissues. I lose, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer.

Dan Wheldon Dies in Horrible Indycar Crash
English auto racing driver, Dan Wheldon died following a fiery racing accident on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Youtube
Dan Wheldon Dies in Horrible Indycar Crash
English auto racing driver, Dan Wheldon died following a fiery racing accident on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Youtube
Dan Wheldon Dies in Horrible Indycar Crash
English auto racing driver, Dan Wheldon died following a fiery racing accident on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Youtube
IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon is loaded into a medical helicopter after being injured in a multi-car wreck during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada
IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon is loaded into a medical helicopter after being injured in a multi-car wreck during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011. Reuters
The race car of driver Will Power goes airborne during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas
The race car of driver Will Power (L) goes airborne during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011. British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in an horrific crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, race organizers said. The 33-year-old Englishman, who lived in Florida, was involved in a multi-car accident 13 laps into the Las Vegas Indy 300 which sent his vehicle flying. Reuters
The race car of driver Will Power goes airborne during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas
The race car of driver Will Power (L) goes airborne during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011. British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in an horrific crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, race organizers said. The 33-year-old Englishman, who lived in Florida, was involved in a multi-car accident 13 laps into the Las Vegas Indy 300 which sent his vehicle flying. Reuters