• Public outpouring for hugely popular two-time Indianapolis 500 winner
• Wife Susie says household wanted community to share in celebration of his life
• Sister Holly thanks ‘amazing’ fans for all their support and messages
• IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti and his wife Ashley Judd in attendance
  

By Every day Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:15 PM on 22nd October 2011

The funeral of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon is underway in his adopted hometown of St Petersburg, Florida.

Significant crowds have gathered for the ceremony, which began at 10am at 1st Presbyterian Church in St Pete.

The front page of the order of service writes merely, ‘Lionheart Forever’, underneath a picture of Wheldon kissing a trophy – in reference to the driver’s nickname, earned for fearless racing.

The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was killed in a fiery 15-automobile crash at Sunday’s season-ending IndyCar race in Las Vegas. He was 33.

Funeral: The funeral of Indycar driver Dan Wheldon will nowadays be held at Very first Presbyterian Church in the star’s adopted house town of St Petersburg, Florida. Pictured is Wheldon’s coffin arriving at 7.45am

‘Though we won’t be able to fit every person inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing,’ his wife Susie Wheldon stated in a statement on Thursday.

She thanked fans for providing support over the past few days, which she described as ‘unbearable’ for the loved ones. Wheldon is survived by his wife and two young youngsters, Sebastian and Oliver.

Wheldon’s enjoyable-loving techniques produced him 1 of IndyCar’s most well-known drivers and he developed a unique bond with fans in both American cities that he known as property – Indianapolis and St Petersburg – right after moving from his native England.

Fans from both cities dropped off notes of condolence and items ranging from teddy bears to chequered flags at impromptu memorial web sites this week.

Unbearable: Susie Wheldon, left, stated the death of her husband had been ‘unbearable’ but that the ‘outpouring of sympathy has been so comforting’. Here she holds son Oliver, while Wheldon holds son Sebastian

IndyCar star: The British driver, pictured gesturing throughout the 95th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Trophy Presentation on Could 30, 2011, died last Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada, throughout the IZOD IndyCar World Championships

‘Overwhelming love’: Thousands are expected to line the streets to share their condolences with Wheldon’s household

Tragic crash: Dan Wheldon’s vehicle, a #77 Bowers &amp Wilkins Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Honda (left), flies in the air during the Las Vegas Indy 300 last Sunday

‘Although the last few days have been unbearable for our household, the overwhelming enjoy and support we have received are rays of sunshine throughout these dark days,’ Susie Wheldon stated.

‘The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank every person for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.’

Wheldon’s sister, Holly Wheldon, tweeted yesterday: ‘Thank you so significantly to everyone who emailed and tweeted me wonderful messages. Really appreciate it. Dan would be proud of all of you. ’

Formula One driver and 1-time world champion Jenson Button, who competed against Wheldon as they had been growing up, tweeted: ‘I have so several excellent memories of racing with Dan in the early 90′s, a true fighter.

‘We’ve lost a legend in our sport but also a excellent guy…I cannot start to envision what his household are going through and my thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.’

Memories: Former Formula One racer Anthony Davidson yesterday tweeted this picture from the 1990 British cadet championships. Wheldon sits on Davidson’s front wheel with former F1 world champion Jenson Button stood up

Yesterday he responded to former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson’s tweeted picture of the trio racing each other as kids.

Davidson wrote: ‘A young Dan Wheldon (with Jenson) sits on my wheel at the 1990 British cadet champs.’ To which Button replied: ‘Thanks for the fantastic memories.’

NASCAR drivers will honour Wheldon with a unique decal at this weekend’s race in Talladega, Alabama.

The St Petersburg city council was scheduled to honour Wheldon with a resolution on Thursday afternoon, and IndyCar officials are holding a public memorial service on Sunday afternoon at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indy.

The Indy memorial service will open its doors to the public at two.30pm, 90 minutes just before the service is scheduled to start.

In Milton Keynes, England, fans attending the soccer match among MK Dons and Scunthorpe gave a minute’s applause for Wheldon before kick-off, at the exact same time as his funeral was starting across the Atlantic. Wheldon was born in the village of Emberton, just outside Milton Keynes.

A trust fund for Wheldon’s loved ones has been established. Donations can be sent to Fifth Third Private Bank, attention Dan Wheldon Family Trust, 251 North Illinois St., Suite 1000, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Those wishing to send their condolences to the Wheldon family members can address letters to The Wheldons, 9600 Koger Blvd N, Ste. 105, St Petersburg, FL 33702.

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