On Sunday one of racing's true champions died doing what he did best and as Chip Ganassi (Dan Wheldon's former car owner) said, "everybody in IndyCar died a little today."

The tragic 15-car crash that killed Dan Wheldon during the IndyCar circuit race in Las Vegas might once again prompt the usual backlash against car racing from its most vocal critics. For critics, any fatal crash can serve that purpose. And that's a shame.

There will always be those who fear risk. Dan Wheldon wasn't one of them. The two-time Indy 500 winner (2005, 2011) won 16 IndyCar series races overall and was universally respected by competitors and friends for his determination, candor and winning attitude. He knew that competition produced the best results.

“We push each other hard, ... We never give an inch," Wheldon said not too long ago. "For instance, at the open test at Phoenix International Raceway, I set a fast time and then Dario, Tony and Bryan all went out to better it and did. We always work on improvement and, as competitive as we've been, the friendships between us make it all work.”

He embraced risk. He knew tracks and his cars' capabilities on each one. For the efforts of this rare fraternity to which Wheldon belonged, all of us --even 'Sunday drivers'-- owe a debt of gratitude.

It's the risk that they take each time out that delivers tremendous knowledge and innovation. Of course, it's easy to forget that without auto racing we may never see many of the technology and design advances that keep us all safer in the passenger vehicles that millions of us drive each day.

It's the risks taken by this gifted and talented fraternity that have enabled enhancements in vehicle performance and safety to roll off production lines for more than 100 years.

Going back to when the rear view mirror was introduced, at the inaugural 1911 Indy 500, race cars have brought us advances in every area: seat belts; shoulder harnesses; rollbars; more powerful engines, transmissions and electronics; sensors and data recorders; detachable rims and certainly radial tires and tire tread innovations are the direct result of auto racing. High performance engines and improved fuel economy; weight reduction from carbon fiber... the list goes on.

God bless Dan Wheldon and all those racers whose lives have ended far too soon.