NASCAR Cup Series

IndyCar: Wheldon OK to pass after last-lap wreck

Published May. 29, 2011 7:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

IndyCar says Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon was not expected to stay behind runner-up JR Hildebrand when the rookie slammed into the wall on the final turn of Sunday's race.

IndyCar president of competition and racing operations Brian Barnhart says he gave that explanation to Panther Racing team manager Chris Mower, avoiding a protest of the finish.

Barnhart says Mower wanted to make sure IndyCar looked at everything. Barnhart added that ''it would be impractical'' to stay behind cars involved in accidents.