Curt Cavin

curt.cavin@indystar.com

The driver at the front of IndyCar's celebrity go-kart race Wednesday in Palmetto, Fla., still rides in a child protective seat in his mother's car.

But Marco Andretti was impressed with the driving performance of 5-year-old Sebastian Wheldon, the oldest son of Dan and Susie Wheldon.

"He's the real deal," Andretti said of Sebastian as a future racer. "He had the whole field right behind him, and he didn't flinch. He even hit the (corner) apexes."

Here's a little secret: Sebastian has been testing at Andersen RacePark since receiving his first kart in October.

"Like three or four times a week," Susie Wheldon said. "He just loves it.

"He'll be out there (on the track) for a couple of hours -- not all at once, you know, but in three or four stints -- and I'll put him back in the car to come home and he'll be asleep in his fire suit."

Strapped in a child's five-point harness, no less.

Sebastian's first kart race is set for early next month in South Carolina. His mother said he is particular like his father, wanting everything about his racing effort to be just right. They're even flying to the race.

"Oh, my gosh, here we go," Susie said with a laugh. "What have I gotten myself into again?!"

Susie might soon have two young drivers on her hands. Oliver turned 3 on Wednesday.

As cool as it is to have Sebastian driving, he has a cool helmet to match. On the back is a Lionheart character intended to be his father giving a fist-bump to the next racing generation. The helmet was designed by Jason Fowler of JLF Designs; he did Dan's helmets, too.

"(Sebastian) gets the whole Lionheart armor," Susie said. "So, it's great for him."

IndyCar Series drivers Simon Pagenaud and Sebastien Bourdais also participated in the celebrity event promoting next week's season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Dan Wheldon won the St. Petersburg race and the Indianapolis 500 in his 2005 IndyCar Series championship season. He also won the 500 in 2011 in his final try. He was killed in a race crash on Oct. 16, 2011, in Las Vegas.