Not NASCAR exactly but everyone remembers this

A year ago this week, Dan Wheldon sat at a small round table in the back of the room during the annual Indianapolis 500 Media Day and smiled like a fox as reporters and photographers walked by him and assembled three- and four-deep nearby to speak to drivers Danica Patrick , Will Power, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon.

Was Wheldon's presence felt during Indy 500 practice. ?

Wheldon knew that many of the reporters didnt give him a chance to win the 100th anniversary edition of the Indy 500 three days later. After all, it was only the first race of the season for the former IZOD IndyCar Series champ. And his humble team fielded by good friend and former teammate Bryan Herta was small, new and underfunded compared to the likes of the 15- tim e Indy-winning Penske Racing, Target Ganassi or even Andretti Autosport , for whom he won his first Indy 500 title in 2005.

Youre damn right we can win this, Wheldon said, flashing a huge grin and a dont-you-underes tim ate-me laugh to the two of us reporters who knew better.

I truly believe we can do this.

And he did in spectacular fashion taking the lead only 100 yards before the checkered flag---and the rest is History---Gone but not forgotten.

story by Holly Cain

updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

I just watched Dan's Indy Victory Lane celebration.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

I have been following Susie Weldon these last few days and she seems to be able to handle it so far--BUT--today I think will be the hardest.. She may just disappear. Scott Dixions wife has been her constant companion since Las Vegas,they even moved to St Pete to be her pillow to lean on------------thats true friendship in the racing world......................................memories

PKL, I'd say the Indy 500 became a victim of ego-clashing wealthy sportsmen. They directed their once-American sport down a path of exclusivity, where foreign-sounding names were considered "more sophisticated" and would attract a "more cosmopolitan" audience. During this "progressive" phase, the league lost mega-American-talent like Jeff Gordon, but kept its head firmly buried in the sand. Sadly, that was onlt the beginning........the sport was decimated by a civil war with the formation of CART. Tony George, the only leader with big-picture vision, realized the the sport had to reunite and eventually worked the deal with NASCAR for the "Brickyard 400" in return for NASCAR's 'official' approval of the Indy Racing League. Indy racing may (ultimately) return to its former glory, but it won't be easy and it won't be quick.