Silence a lasting memory for Cunningham

Wade Cunningham's only lucid memory of the accident that claimed the life of IndyCar star Dan Wheldon is the deathly silent moment when his own car came to a halt.

Cunningham, the Kiwi driver caught in the middle of the spectacular crash in Las Vegas last month, has spoken publicly for the first time about an accident he describes as a "perfect storm".

"We were doing 226mph when it happened, which is close to 380kmh I think," he told The Dominion Post yesterday. "After the first impact, to me it was just sounds, feelings, lots of blurring of vision, then there was fire.

"It wasn't till it was all over and it was quiet again, that's kind of when I realised what had happened.

"As I hit the wall and got impacted, a couple of [drivers] went over me and then into me, so I knew it was big at that stage. There was carbon fibre flying everywhere, but it was not till I slid off the wall and came to a stop that I became aware."

Cunningham says the view that greeted him when he came to his senses was one of complete carnage.

"It looked like the whole field was either upside down or on fire. It was horrific, but at that point you are just trying to get out of the car and take stock. None of us realised how bad Dan was at that point."

He says Wheldon's death has had a profound effect on him, but he has vowed to keep racing despite the tragic end to his debut season on the IndyCar series.

"It was the first death I've been involved in in motor racing and I think as a driver you like to believe you are invincible and that motor racing has become safe. That's obviously not true and things like this can happen.

"As a driver you always push that to the back of your mind. It's only in instances like this, a massive tragedy, that it comes back and forces you to think about your mortality."

The accident is the subject of an investigation by IndyCar, the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States and world motorsport's governing body FIA.

Cunningham, who was involved in the early stages of what became a chain reaction back through the bunched field, does not believe any of the drivers were to blame.

He points to a Las Vegas track not previously used by IndyCars since 1999 and particularly the grip generated by the asphalt and steep banking.

"Normally, IndyCars produce a lot of down-force and a lot of turbulent air behind them. That usually limits how close you can run.

"Because of the amount of grip at Vegas the trailing cars were able to run super close to the ones in front, closer then any other track wehad run at."

The result was "pack racing" and Cunningham said cars were as close as two centimetres from his side at speeds nearing 380kmh and just two metres in front coming into the bends. "It was [a perfect storm]. It was the season finale, a lot of cars on track and a lot of very competitive cars."

Mostly, Cunningham says he thinks of Wheldon's family: two young children and a wife. He looked up to Wheldon as one of the best drivers on the circuit, and hopes people will remember what a great person he was. "He was such an outgoing and friendly person and so engaged with the people around him, that's what he will be missed most for I think."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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