Danica Patrick announced retirement from IndyCar career on mournful day

Danica Patrick has been the most popular driver on the IndyCar circuit. But after the tragic incident of Sunday, when Dan Wheldon died, she announced retirement after seven years of racing at 220 mph. She bid farewell at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Wheldon perished of injuries in a 15-car stack that Patrick hardly managed to avert.

"There was debris everywhere, you could smell smoke and see the billowing smoke," she said in a live ABC interview after the race was stopped for clean-up and repair.

"I hope, I hope everyone is OK. I heard about Dan …," said Patrick, her voice dragging off. "You just don't want to be in that position."

After her retirement Patrick, will now focus full attention on racing stock cars full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. She has partially raced since last year. She has also scheduled to drive in up to 10 premier Sprint Cup races.