From: Michael Powell 

FAN VOTE DELIVERS AUTOSPORT AWARD TO WHELDON

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Dec. 8, 2003 – Dan Wheldon, the 2003 Indy Racing
League(R) IndyCar(R) Series Bombardier Rookie of the Year, was named the
Autosport.com Rookie of the Year on Dec. 7 at the prestigious Autosport
Awards in London.

The Autosport.com Rookie of the Year award is determined by a fan vote at
www.autosport.com, the web site of the popular England-based motorsports
magazine. Formula One standout Mark Webber presented the award to Wheldon,
who defeated six other drivers from racing series around the world,
including IRL newcomer Darren Manning, Formula One drivers Cristiano da
Matta, Ralph Firman and Justin Wilson, and CART standout Sebastien
Bourdais.

Wheldon, 25, from Emberton, England, finished 11th in IndyCar Series points
in 2003, driving the No. 26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam Dallara/Honda/Firestone
for Andretti Green Racing. He scored five top-five finishes and 10 top-10
finishes. He finished a career-best third Oct. 12 at the season-ending
Chevy 500.

“Andretti Green is a fantastic team,” Wheldon said. “Michael Andretti is a
tough boss, but he’s good. I enjoyed it a lot, and I’m looking forward to
next year.”

Rookie of the Year titles are nothing new to Wheldon. Since moving to the
United States in 1999, he has won three other rookie titles based on his
performance on track: U.S. Formula Ford 2000 (1999), Toyota Atlantic (2000)
and Dayton Indy Lights (2001).



--- Internet Rex 2.29