He’s the Bay Area’s best known sports figure not named Barber, Blake, Dungy or Lecavalier. His name — Dan Wheldon — is actually best known nationally and internationally.
It’s what happens when you’ve won the Indianapolis 500. It’s what happens when you’ve been nominated by ESPN for its “Hottest Male Athlete” award. And it’s what happens when you’ve done the David Letterman Show.
A native of Great Britain and a resident of St. Petersburg’s Snell Isle, Wheldon is marketing manna for auto sports and his Target Chip Ganassi Racing team. Clipped British accent. Winning smile. Outgoing personality. Flirtatious manner. Impressive track record.
The 5’9″, 150-lb Wheldon, 29, reminds you of a slender, younger Tom Cruise. He could be the poster lad for the fast-lane lifestyle that is the stereotype of hot shot, open-wheeled, race-car drivers.
Relaxing over lunch at downtown St. Petersburg’s Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club — with his fiancée, Susie Behm, by his side — he waxed diplomatically candid. So what of the driver image of cool, sexy and fearless? How accurate is that?
“Well, I have to be careful with this one,” he said with a wink and a nod toward Behm. “It’s certainly presented as sexy; I would agree.
“And, yes, the perception of that lifestyle is spot on,” he acknowledged. “The lifestyle for a single guy on the circuit is pretty much what you would expect it to be. But you grow out of it,” he added – almost convincingly. “Of course, the lifestyle is always good when you win.”
And Wheldon wins. In fact, he’s won championships at every level since he began racing go-karts at age 4 in the northern English village of Emberton. He has won Rookie of the Year honors in every major series since arriving in the U.S. in 1999.
Capping a meteoric rise was Wheldon’s break-out year of 2005, his second full season in the IndyCar Series. He won the Indianapolis 500 in only his third start and took home a record purse of $1.5 million. He was the first Brit to win Indy since Graham Hill in 1966. He was also the overall champion of the 17-race, March-through-September IndyCar Series season.
“Winning Indy was incredibly special,” said Wheldon. “Imagine having a dream and then actually achieving it. An unbelievable feeling. And once you win it, you’re an Indy champ for life. Being called ‘Indy champ’ is the ultimate in respect.”
Wheldon’s also called some other things: “perfectionist,” “temperamental” and “impatient” among them. He concedes them all, including “Difficult Dan,” an appellation sportively applied to his demanding manner in the pit lanes.
Wheldon said it comes with being uber competitive. Especially in a high-rev arena where the element of danger is an ever present given. Where speed, indeed, has killed.
“People see us zipping around at speeds that are otherwise illegal,” he noted. “That adds to the thrill, of course, but it’s definitely dangerous. The moment you lose respect for speed, you’re in big trouble. I’ve literally seen drivers pass away.”
Ironically, for all his jaunty derring-do, Wheldon can’t bring himself to use the “D” or “K” words. Drivers in horrific accidents “pass away.” It bespeaks of another side.
A side that is sensitive to nuance and the precariousness of life. It’s on display at two locales in particular, neither one a racing venue: St. Vincent’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis and Target House in Memphis. He visits seriously sick children as often as he can. And his racing team – based on wins, laps led and pole positions held — contributes directly to Target House.
“You see these kids and you feel like a brat for any complaints you have,” he said. “I had an air hockey game with one young boy, and I thought I was competitive!
It was great to see. These kids don’t dwell on being sick.” Between Chicagoland Speedway (September) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (March), Wheldon hits a different circuit. His off-season isn’t exactly life in the steadfast lane. A lot of traveling for sponsor personal appearances and some Target photo shoots. Plus the car always needs testing and tinkering. And he jogs and hits the treadmill as part of a cardio-centric training program. He watches his weight as carefully as a jockey – and for the same reason.
Over the holidays he travels back to England as well as Portugal, where his family has a home. He likes the Maldives for a more exotic getaway.
Around St. Petersburg, there have been Wheldon sightings at the Vinoy, some of the bistros at BayWalk, Bella Brava restaurant, the Don CeSar Beach Resort on Pass-a-Grille Beach, as well as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
“Away from the track, I’ve never seen Dan in a bad mood,” says Robert DeMatti, 39, of St. Petersburg, an older-brother-type buddy who has known Wheldon for eight years. “He loves life, and he’s a prankster. Winning the Indy 500 didn’t change him one bit. He’s very approachable.”
On the road, he’ll be driving — prudently, he’s quick to note — either his black Acura TL or white CLS 550 Mercedes with black rims. He also has the world’s most unusual and expensive trophy: the Corvette Pace Car from his 2005 Indy 500 win. Every winner gets one.
He rarely drives it. It’s a reminder of what he loves doing — so well.
“As my father (who used to race go-karts) said, ‘When it’s good, you enjoy it. And when it’s not so good, still enjoy it. You’re lucky you do what you do.’ “That hasn’t changed.”
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is now a fixture on the marquee IndyCar Series circuit. It’s the second stop — April 4-6 — right after the season-opener at Homestead-Miami. The 100-lap, IndyCar Series race featuring Dan Wheldon is Sunday, April 6. Wheldon won it in 2005.
“St. Pete is the most picturesque place we go,” says Wheldon. “And other than Indy, it packs in the most fans. That matters a lot. It’s like a home race for me.”
ESPN will televise the Sunday race, and ABC will carry Saturday’s (Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg/American Le Mans Series) event. The races will be beamed into 150 countries (live and tape delayed.) The economic impact is “clearly in the tens of millions of dollars,” according to Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Vice President and General Manager Tim Ramsberger.
The St. Pete stop has become a favorite among the teams, sponsors and vendors. The yacht-friendly, waterfront venue is spectacular, the weather is balmy and drivers and team members can walk to the track from their hotel. A sense of community-bonding develops.
“We call it ‘The fastest spring break in the world,'” says Ramsberger. “People like it because it’s, well, fun to go fast, and the drivers are so accessible. But on another level, it’s a great way for companies to energize their employees and their customers. There are concerts and air shows. It’s a fantastic marketing platform.”
*”In motor racing, you have to ask for a lot of support, and it takes a lot of money. It’s not just me. It’s also the fans. Without them, I wouldn’t be what I am. The life I live is because of the fans. Any time I can give back, I try to. Especially for kids.”
*”Motor racing is an interesting phenomenon. It seems that fast cars attract pretty woman, and guys really respect the technology and taking corners and going 200 mph.”
*”Indy on race day is unique. In the morning, you can feel the tension and apprehension of the race. It sends shivers down your spine.”
*”What’s it like to race? Well, you get used to it. It’s funny, but when the car is handling right, everything seems to happen slowly.”
*”I’m relatively relaxed on public roads. Also careful. Especially in St. Pete at night. People try to time the lights. I wait.”
*”I have become Americanized. I love the conveniences. You can drive through anything, from banki
ng to dry cleaning.”
*”I could live anywhere. I choose here. If you ever lived in England, you’d really appreciate this area. It’s pretty; the weather is nice; there are a lot of good restaurants.”
*”The Letterman Show was fun. He’s amazing. He’s so sharp. You could say the dullest thing, and he can turn it into something funny. It also helped that he’s knowledgeable and passionate about racing. I’m definitely a Letterman guy.”
——————————————————————-**”I sometimes get nervous, but Dan is a true competitor at heart, and I love watching him do what he enjoys most. You try not to think about the danger factor and what could happen out there.” – Susie Behm, fiancée.