Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon eligible for IndyCar's $5 million bonus | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com


Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon will have a $5 millon bonus opportunity at next month's Izod IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.Many of the details are still to be worked out and unveiled -- a news conference is scheduled Tuesday --but if Wheldon wins the Izod World Championships on Oct. 16, he'll garner $2.5 million for his team and $2.5 million for a fan.
IndyCar went with the Wheldon option because no driver outside open-wheel racing stepped forward to participate. IndyCar wanted a competitor who could attract attention, and Wheldon, who has not competed in an IndyCar race since May, offers the best chance for that.
Wheldon, the 2005 series champion, is a two-time 500 winner. He has won 16 IndyCar races.
I think he has a chance at it, too.