National Hot Rod Association headliners Brandon Bernstein, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, and Cory McClenathan are among the motorsports stars who have donated race-worn items for an online auction to raise money for the family of the late Dan Wheldon.
 
The idea for an auction snowballed after Chip Ganassi Racing driver Graham Rahal volunteered to auction the helmet, gloves, and shoes he wore in last Sunday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in which Wheldon, the reigning and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and the 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, was killed.
 
Wheldon is survived by wife Susie and two young sons.
 
"I never thought when I tweeted about auctioning my helmet that we would get this kind of reaction," Rahal said. "I certainly appreciate everyone's support for Dan's Memorial Auction."

National Hot Rod Association headliners Brandon Bernstein, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, and Cory McClenathan are among the motorsports stars who have

donated race-worn items for an online auction to raise money for the family of the late Dan Wheldon.
 
The idea for an auction snowballed after Chip Ganassi Racing driver Graham Rahal volunteered to auction the helmet, gloves, and shoes he wore in last Sunday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in which Wheldon, the reigning and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and the 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, was killed.
 
Wheldon is survived by wife Susie and two young sons.
 
"I never thought when I tweeted about auctioning my helmet that we would get this kind of reaction," Rahal said. "I certainly appreciate everyone's support for Dan's Memorial Auction."
 
Drag racers Johnny Gray, Shane Gray, and Dom Lagana have a connection, as their sponsor, Service Central, has offered tires from all its stores, including its partners.
 
Celebrities from motorsports and the entertainment industry, as well, have contributed to the auction that will start Monday, Oct. 24. All proceeds will go to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund.
 
Internet web site eBay, which has waived all fees, will conduct the auction, along with Auction Cause, a Los Angeles-based auction management agency specializing in high profile corporate, celebrity, and nonprofit eBay auction events.
 
A link to the auction site will be available through www.DanWheldonMemorial.com, the memorial website GoDaddy.com set up. It includes a Facebook link to leave condolences and remembrances, a career photo retrospective, and details on how fans can donate to either the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund or the Alzheimer's Association, a cause Wheldon championed.
 
Rahal's father Bobby, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, got involved, providing one of his race-worn helmets. Among the INDYCAR racers contributing are Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Simona De Silvestro, Oriol Servia, James Hinchcliffe, , and Charlie Kimball. Joining them are NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Max Papis and Formula One stars Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Jenson Button, and Rubens Barrichello.
 
The outpouring of support spread to the larger sports and entertainment world. Signed Indiana Pacers jerseys from Larry Bird and Clark Kellogg are on the list, as are memorabilia from Tour de France-winning cyclist Lance Armstrong, MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden, NBA star Dwight Howard, tennis legend Billie Jean King, actors Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, and professional surfer Kelly Slater.
 
NFL fans can bid for a helmet signed by Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Deion Saunders; a New York Giants helmet signed by Eli Manning; an NFL jersey signed by Roger Staubach, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Warren Moon, and Harry Carson; and a  No. 77 Dan Wheldon Indianapolis Colts jersey signed by Colts players.
 
Other items include an INDYCAR Experience two-seater ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a two-seat Grand-Am Daytona Prototype ride from Mike Shank Racing at Mid-Ohio's sports car course, a VIP Package for any of the Barrett Jackson Auctions, Ritmo Mundo INDYCAR rose gold timepieces, and a limited-edition Colt handgun with serial number "98INDY500," and two custom Colt Indianapolis 500 rifles.
 
INDYCAR will host a public memorial service to celebrate the life of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon at 4 p.m. (ET) Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The memorial also will be broadcast on www.indycar.com, VERSUS, ESPNEWS, ESPN3.com and on several Indianapolis network affiliates.