This video shows the 15-car pile-up during the IndyCar Series season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway which claimed the life of former champion Dan Wheldon. He was just 33-years-old.

Wheldon was airlifted to hospital after this crash, which saw his car catapulted into the fence where it burst into flames. He had suffered serious injuries and ended up passing away a couple of hours later.

The bad thing is crashes are as much a part of motorsport as overtaking and driver rivalry. They happen often and the fans even enjoy watching huge pile-ups, whether they admit it or not.

But when someone dies in one of the crashes it changes the very nature of it. It’s no longer an awesome sight to behold, it’s just scary, shocking, and absolutely tragic. As is the case with this particular one.

Dan Wheldon: 1978-2011. Rest In Peace.