Dan Wheldon, 33, won the 2011 Indianapolis 500 and was aiming to win Sunday's IndyCar finale in Las Vegas before a horrific crash claimed his life.

Drivers crash during a wreck that involved 15 cars during the IndyCar Series' Las Vegas Indy 300 Auto Race at Las Vegas motor speedway in on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011.

Dan Wheldon, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the most popular drivers in open-wheel racing, died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car became ensnarled in a fiery 15-car pileup, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2.

The race was only minutes old when Wheldon couldn't steer clear of a wreck that started when two cars touched tires.

Video replays showed Wheldon's car turning over as it went airborne and sailed into what's called the catch fence, which sits over a barrier that's designed to give a little when cars make contact.

Wheldon was airlifted from the track to University Medical Center; about two hours later, his colleagues were told of his death.

"IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries," IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race."

In his honor, drivers, many sobbing openly, took part in a five-lap salute around the oval.

Also injured in the crash were JR Hildebrand and Pippa Mann. Both will remain in the hospital overnight.

Wheldon, who came to the United States from England in 1999, won 16 times in his IndyCar career and was the series champion in 2005.