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After learning IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was killed in a fiery crash Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, Mike Nish had a question for his son.

"I asked him, 'Do you still want to do this?' " Nish told the Tribune. "He said, 'Hell, yes.' "

Nish, 51, is a Salt Lake City native who has driven race cars for nearly four decades.

He drove in four CART races in the mid-1980s and twice made unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

In recent years, he has been heavily involved in land-speed racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Andy Nish is a 13-year-old who has been dominating age-group kart racing in recent years at Miller Motorsports Park, with an eye on following in his father's footsteps.

Father and son, it seems, understand the danger involved in their sport.

"Unfortunately, it's part of it," Mike Nish said. " … I didn't know Dan very well. But he was one of the guys, you know? It's very sad."

Nish saw the 15-car accident that killed Wheldon, the reigning Indy 500 champion, on television.

He called it " just horrific. That's one of the most involved crashes I've ever seen, as far as the number of cars involved."

According to Nish, racing is safer now than it was 25 years ago because of improved equipment and facilities.

Still, he said, "Things are going to happen from time to time in any kind of auto racing — be it Indy cars or karting or whatever."

Nish's worst accident occurred "a long time ago" during a Midget race at Phoenix International Raceway.

His car went over a retaining fence and rolled "numerous times" before coming to rest on the side of a hill.

"I was unconscious quite a while," Nish said, "and my arm was crushed. They were going to amputate my arm, but my father didn't let them. I'm glad, too, because I still have it."

Nish also suffered double vision, but started racing again nine months later, after his normal eyesight returned.

He knows, however, that the drivers involved in the crash that killed Wheldon have a difficult task ahead of them.

"Some things go through your head when something like this happens," Nish said. "It makes you apprehensive to do it again and it can ruin the career of a good driver.

"Once fear becomes a factor in your decisions, it's time to not do it anymore because driving a race car is a very mental thing. Self-confidence is a big factor. If it's not there completely, it's a tough deal."