• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Wheldon details to be revealed

IndyCar officials plan to announce today their initial findings from the investigation into Dan Wheldon's fatal accident.

Wheldon was killed in the opening laps of the Oct. 16 season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was involved in a 15-car accident, and his car sailed into the catchfence.

Many elements of the event have been criticized in the wake of the accident, and IndyCar hasn't released its 2012 schedule as officials wait for the results of the investigation. One of the issues they hope will be addressed is if the IndyCar is compatible with high-banked ovals.

The series came to an agreement last week with Las Vegas to buy its way out of the portion of the contract that called for IndyCar to end 2012 at Las Vegas. A possible return in 2013 for the final year of the contract will be addressed a later date, and after at least one test session at the track.

But what the report, scheduled to be presented at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday morning, will likely show is that a combination of factors—a perfect storm, per se—led to Wheldon's death.

The entire event has been heavily scrutinized since Wheldon's accident. Critics have questioned everything from the speeds at Las Vegas, to the season-high 34-car field and the varying degrees of experience among the drivers in the race.