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October is an incredibly difficult month for auto racing. Just a couple of days ago was the 1 year anniversary of the death of sports car racer Sean Edwards, and today marks three years since one of the biggest losses: IndyCar and Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon.
For everyone who watched the end of Suzuka with their hearts in their throats out of fear for Jules Bianchi's life, you can only imagine what that turns into when the fear turns into reality. Las Vegas 2011 was supposed to be a great day - more than 30 cars running, the last race before a new beginning for IndyCar the next season. Instead, just a few laps in, it turned into an end that no one was ready for. Wheldon had just signed with Andretti to be in the Go Daddy car the next year, and would have become the superstar he deserved to be. Instead, his death became a turning point in IndyCar racing.
It's a tough day for many in racing. But to every cloud, a silver lining: his son, at only 5, is already aiming for the Borg Warner Trophy.
Lionheart lives.