Monday 4th March 2024

'The Lionheart' grapples with Dan Wheldon's legacy

A new HBO film celebrates Wheldon's life and considers events that occurred after his death in 2011

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It seems like a lifetime ago that the world had to come to terms with the tragic death of Dan Wheldon, the two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and father to two very young sons. A new HBO documentary, due next week, seeks to tell both stories: one addressing a storied career that included the Indycar driver’s championship in 2005, the other focusing on what came next for Wheldon’s family. 

Emotive subject matter, as the trailer below makes clear. Wheldon, nicknamed The Lionheart, was a highly respected and much-loved member of the Indycar community and had enjoyed considerable success since arriving in the US in 1999. Autosport later considered him ‘one of a golden crop’ of British single-seater drivers that emerged in the ‘90s (Jensen Button was one of his chief rivals as a junior) and he is often cited as one of the greatest drivers never to race in F1. 

Clearly this legacy has left a deep impression on his children. Both Sebastian and Oliver have since taken up racing, presenting their mother with an obvious dilemma as they embrace the sport which cut her husband’s life short at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. Expect the question of lineage in motorsport to feature prominently - not least because Sebastian is primed to make his debut in USF Juniors this season, a series that is roughly analogous to Formula 4 and considered the ‘first rung of the Road to Indy’. 

‘The Lionheart’ actually enjoyed its first showing during last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, but is now set for its US release on Tuesday 12th on HBO Max. With any luck, it will be available in the UK - most likely via Sky Atlantic - soon afterwards. Certainly, Wheldon’s story deserves a wider audience in the UK. 

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[zorba_the_greek]

Will watch out for this in cinemas

[LotusOmega375D]

Perhaps they’ll do a film about “Il Leone” next time.

Retitled “Our Nige” for UK audiences.

[Arsecati]

Dear god, this was thirteen years ago???? I would have said 5, or 6 at a push. Wow, remember it so clearly - will definitely be keeping an eye out for this one, he was a good lad by all accounts, very deeply missed.

[ManyMotors]

Wheldon was great. Two 500s and a Daytona 24.

[cannedrex2406]

Arsecati said:

Dear god, this was thirteen years ago???? I would have said 5, or 6 at a push. Wow, remember it so clearly - will definitely be keeping an eye out for this one, he was a good lad by all accounts, very deeply missed.

Glad to see I'm not the youngest person on PH at least lol (although not by much, only about 2-3 years)


But I agree I never knew much about Indy, but even as a young kid in the late 2000s I remember hearing about him a bit. Such a shame and I'm glad his wife is supporting their kids as much. Many families who deal with death in Motorsport don't.

[RiseUp]

I remember his accident very vividly and despite not being a massive Indycar follower, his death was extremely sad.

Very much looking forward to the documentary.

[Muzzer79]

Dan was a local lad - his family live a few miles from me.

He was super-talented. Will be looking out for this on Sky.

[nismo48]

RiseUp said:

I remember his accident very vividly and despite not being a massive Indycar follower, his death was extremely sad.

Very much looking forward to the documentary.

+1

[Lovey1]

Managed to see this when in the US recently. It's a good, if very tough watch. Well worth searching out