Accident

In 2001 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Jeret Schroeder lost an engine exiting turn 2. This caused him to lose control of his car and make contact with Davey Hamilton's machine. Hamilton's car slammed into the wall, nearly getting caught in the catch fence, and beginning to spin a number of times before coming to rest against the inside retaining wall. Also involved in the crash was Sarah Fisher. Hamilton suffered such severe injuries to his legs and feet, that doctors at one time believed that amputation would be the best option for him.

After the crash, Hamilton took a retirement from driving, and underwent 23 operations to reconstruct his feet and legs. He began standing after five months of the crash, and spent a year in the wheelchair. He did, however, desire to return to racing, and in 2005, started taking steps to return to the cockpit.

In 2010, after retiring from the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on the first lap, Hamilton referenced his 2001 crash while commenting on his early exit from the 500 by saying, "It’s the second-worst day of my racing career...and everyone knows my worst one."

Life after retirement

Hamilton became the color commentator for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasts. He later began driving the 2-seater IndyCar, which gives rides to VIPs and celebrities at IndyCar Series races.

Hamilton partnered with the new American Speed Association, partnering with ASA owner Dennis Huth, to take over control of the popular Southwest Tour for 2007, shortly after NASCAR terminated the popular AutoZone Elite division, which includes the popular Southwest series. The Speedco Southwest Tour series uses the same cars as the former NASCAR-sanctioned series.

Hamilton also owns his own racing team, "Davey Hamilton Apex Racing." This team consists of two winged sprint drivers: his father Ken Hamilton and friend Mike Cullum. Also on the team is Davey's son DJ who races Outlaw Karts and Go Karts. Mike's daughter Jenna rounds out the team and she drives Outlaw Karts. In 2008, Hamilton became a partner in a group that purchased Terre Haute Action Track.

Return to racing

In 2005, Hamilton started courting sponsors and perusing the paddock in an effort to return to racing. After settling several personal and business issues, he landed a ride for the 2007 Indianapolis 500, driving for Vision Racing. Qualifying 20th, Hamilton placed 9th after the race was ended early on lap 166 due to rain. For 2008, Hamilton re-signed with Vision Racing. He finished 14th in the 2008 Indianapolis 500. For the 2009 season, he drove for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and was the only one of the team's four drivers to qualify during the first weekend of qualifications. However he crashed out of the race on lap 79.

In 2010, Hamilton competed in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 for de Ferran Dragon Racing. He was involved in an incident with Tomas Scheckter on the first lap of the race, and was classified in 33rd, last place.

Hamilton's final season of races would be 2011. He finished 24th in the 2011 Indianapolis 500. He also raced in the Twin 275's at Texas for unfinished business. His final start would be at the tragic 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas. Hamilton was fortunate enough to escape the major accident on lap 11 that killed Dan Wheldon, but the race was abandoned, and the results were scratched from official record. When the new chassis and engine package was introduced for the 2012 season, Hamilton was unable to secure a car for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 due to a lack of available rides.

In 2013, Hamilton joined the Stadium Super Trucks, and served as a substitute for Paul Tracy at Honda Indy Toronto; Hamilton started first in the event, but engine trouble forced him to finish seventh.

Personal life

Davey has a son named Davey Jay Hamilton, Jr. (D.J.) who was born on March 15, 1997 in Idaho. He also has a daughter named Hailey. Hamilton is a Christian.

Career results

American open-wheel results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Indy Lights

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Rank	Points
1995	Dick Simon Racing	MIA	PHX	LBH	NAZ	MIL	DET	POR	TOR	CLE	NHA	VAN	LS	NC	0

CART IndyCar

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Rank	Points
1991	Hemelgarn Racing	SRF	LBH	PHX	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	MEA	TOR	MIS	DEN	VAN	MDO	ROA	NAZ	LS	NC	0
1993	Senter Sculley	SRF	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	NHA	ROA	VAN	MDO	NAZ	LS		NC	0
1995	Hemelgarn Racing	MIA	SRF	PHX	LBH	NAZ	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	ROA	TOR	CLE	MIS	MDO	NHA	VAN	LS	NC	0

IndyCar Series / Indy Racing League

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Rank	Points
1996	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	WDW	PHX	INDY																	9th	192
1996-1997	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	NHM	LVS	WDW	PHX	INDY	TXS	PPIR	CHR	NH2	LV2										2nd	272
1998	Nienhouse Motorsports	WDW	PHX	INDY	TXS	NHM	DOV	CHR	PPIR	ATL	TX2	LVS									2nd	292
1999	Galles Racing	WDW	PHX	CLT	INDY	TXS	PPIR	ATL	DOV	PPI2	LVS	TX2									4th	237
2000	TeamXtreme	WDW	PHX	LVS	INDY	TXS	PPIR	ATL	KTY	TX2											23rd	98
2001	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	PHX	HMS	ATL	INDY	TXS	PPIR	RIR	KAN	NSH	KTY	STL	CHI	TX2							26th	54
2007	Vision Racing	HMS	STP	MOT	KAN	INDY	MIL	TXS	IOW	RIR	WGL	NSH	MDO	MIS	KTY	SNM	DET	CHI			26th	22
2008	Vision Racing	HMS	STP	MOT1	LBH1	KAN	INDY	MIL	TXS	IOW	RIR	WGL	NSH	MDO	EDM	KTY	SNM	DET	CHI	SRF2	36th	16
2009	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	STP	LBH	KAN	INDY	MIL	TXS	IOW	RIR	WGL	TOR	EDM	KTY	MDO	SNM	CHI	MOT	HMS			40th	10
2010	de Ferran Dragon Racing	SAO	STP	ALA	LBH	KAN	INDY	TXS	IOW	WGL	TOR	EDM	MDO	SNM	CHI	KTY	MOT	HMS			36th	26
2011	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	STP	ALA	LBH	SAO	INDY	TXS1	TXS2	MIL	IOW	TOR	EDM	MDO	NHM	SNM	BAL	MOT	KTY	LVS3		41st	26

1 Races run on same day.

2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race.

3 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.

Years	Teams	Races	Poles	Wins	Podiums (Non-win)	Top 10s (Non-podium)	Indianapolis 500 Wins	Championships
11	8	56	0	0	8	15	0	0

Indianapolis 500

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
1991	Lola	Buick	DNQ		Hemelgarn
1993	Lola	Buick	DNQ		Senter Sculley
1995	Reynard	Ford-Cosworth	DNQ		Hemelgarn
1996	Lola	Ford-Cosworth	10	12	Foyt
1997	G-Force	Oldsmobile	8	6	Foyt
1998	G-Force	Oldsmobile	8	4	Nienhouse
1999	Dallara	Oldsmobile	11	11	Galles
2000	G-Force	Oldsmobile	28	20	TeamXtreme
2001	Dallara	Oldsmobile	26	23	Schmidt
2007	Dallara	Honda	20	9	Vision
2008	Dallara	Honda	18	14	Vision
2009	Dallara	Honda	22	29	Dreyer & Reinbold
2010	Dallara	Honda	14	33	de Ferran Dragon
2011	Dallara	Honda	15	24	Dreyer & Reinbold

[ Source: Wikipedia ]