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IndyCar's Wheldon mourned at Fla. funeral

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Published: Oct. 22, 2011 at 6:51 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Hundreds of fans and family members gathered in Florida Saturday for the funeral of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, who was killed this month in a race crash.

The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was remembered at a St. Petersburg ceremony as an accomplished race car driver as well as a young father and husband.

The native of Emberton, England, is survived by his wife Susie and sons Sebastian and Oliver.

Wheldon, who won his second Indianapolis 500 in May, died in a fiery, 15-car crash in the Oct. 16 IndyCar season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Among his pallbearers were fellow IndyCar drivers Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan.

Also in attendance was Franchitti's wife, movie actress Ashley Judd, and her sister, country music star Wynonna Judd, who honored Wheldon with a rendition of "Amazing Grace" as large crowds of fans formed outside the church.

The family said a private burial was held after the funeral.

Topics: Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Ashley Judd
© 2011 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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