HOMESTEAD, Fla., March 26 (UPI) -- IndyCar Series driver Paul Dana was killed Sunday during a practice run before the first IRL race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The race went on, with Dan Wheldon defeating Helio Castroneves by less than a tenth of a second.
Dana was to have taken part in his first race for the Bobby Rahal-David Letterman team. He had not driven since suffering a back injury during practice at last year's Indianapolis 500.
The other Rahal-Letterman drivers -- Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice -- withdrew from Sunday's race.
Sam Hornish Jr. finished third, followed by Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon.
The fatal accident occurred shortly after the practice session began. Ed Carpenter spun his car in the second turn and as it slid back down the track, Dana's car slammed into the wreckage.
