DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18 —  He
               was The Intimidator, the Man in Black, and
               right to the end, Dale Earnhardt was every
               bit the brusque daredevil who drew millions
               to his sport. Earnhardt, the driver people
               either loved or hated — but had to watch
               either way — died Sunday at the Daytona
               500, a race he spiced up with his trademark
               bumps and bold challenges,unexpected moves
               and even an obscene gesture to a green rookie.

FILE--NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, of Kannapolis,  N.C., looks out of the garage at the Daytona

                  International Speedway Friday morning, Feb. 9, 2001, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, one of the greatest

                  stars in auto racing history, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001,  from injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500,

                  NASCAR officials said.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

FILE--Dale Earnhardt celebrates in victory lane after winning the International

        Race of Champions in 1995 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, one of the greatest

        stars in auto racing history, died Sunday. Feb. 18, 2001 from injuries in a last-lap

        crash at the Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

FILE-Dale Earnhardt, of Kannapolis, N.C., leans on the hood of his backup

           Chevrolet while crew members change out an engine Friday afternoon, Feb.

           9, 2001, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

           Earnhardt, one of the greatest stars in auto racing history, died Sunday

           from injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500.(AP Photo/Chris

           O'Meara)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) and his father, Dale Earnhardt, (3) run together near the end

        of the 43rd Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway on Sun. Feb. 18,

        2001, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt Sr. wrecked a few laps later and was

        transported to a local hospital.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Dale Earnhardt (3) and Ken Schrader (36) run side-by-side on the next-to-last lap of

        the 43rd Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 18,

        2001, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt and Schrader would wreck coming out of

        turn four on the last lap sending Earnhardt to the hospital, where he is listed in

        serious condition. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

The American flag flies at half mast in the infield after  NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt died from injuries

                 suffered in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 at  the Daytona International Speedway February 18, 2001.

                 Going into turn four, Earnhardt's Chevrolet appeared to  clip the Dodge of Sterling Marlin and slewed sideways.

                 The Pontiac of Ken Schrader slammed into his car,  forcing both of them into the fourth turn wall at speeds of

                 about 180 mph (290 kph). REUTERS/Mark Wallheiser

Chocolate Meyers, gas man for the Dale Earnhardt Sr.,  racing team reacts as he looks at the aftermath of the

                 accident on the big screen in the infield during the  Daytona 500 race Sunday Feb. 18, 2001 in Daytona

                 Beach, Fla. Earnhardt was fatally injured on the final lap  of the race. (AP Photo/Bruce Ackerman)

Mike Helton, NASCAR president, announces the death of driver Dale Earnhardt at

        a press conference at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach,

        Florida February 18, 2001. Earnhardt was fatally injured after he crashed during

        the final lap of the Daytona 500. REUTERS/Charles Luzier

Fans pause by a memorial in front of the headquarters for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.,

        near Mooresville, N.C., Sunday Feb. 18, 2001 after hearing of the death of

        NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Mike Colman, of Melbourne, Fla., puts up a sign on the fence near the spot Dale  Earnhardt hit the wall during Sunday's running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 18, 2001  in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, one of the greatest stars in auto racing history,

        died Sunday from injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Russell  Williams)

---

A sheet is placed over a funeral home van so that the body of Dale Earnhardt can  be loaded at the Halifax Memorial Hospital Sunday

afternoon Feb. 18, 2001 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, the driver people either loved or hated _ but had to   watch either way _ died

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001 at the Daytona 500(AP Photo/Steve  Simoneau)

Rescue workers surround Dale Earnhardt's Chevrolet after he was involved in a   crash during the Daytona 500 Sunday afternoon Feb. 18, 2001 at the Daytona  International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt had to be cut from the

        wreck. He was taken to an area hospital and is believed to be badly hurt. (AP    Photo/Greg Suvino)

Michael Waltrip, of Owensboro, Ky., lowers his head   while in victory lane after winning the Daytona 500

                  race Sunday Feb. 18, 2001 in Daytona Beach, Fla.   Waltrip said that he was experiencing mixed emotions

                  after winning the race and learning that his buddy,  Dale Earnhardt had been injured on the final lap of the

                  race in a crash. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Driver Dale Earnhardt (second from right) congratulates Ron Fellows  (third from right) and other drivers of the number 2 Goodwrench Corvette  after they won the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car endurance race run at   the Daytona International Speedway February 4, 2001 in Daytona Beach, Florida. From left are drivers Johnny O'Connell, Chris Kneifel, Fellows,  Earnhardt, and Franck Freon. Earnhardt drove the number 3 Goodwrench  Corvette which is sponsored by the same team. He finished fourth overall  with co-drivers Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins and his son, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Fond farewell

Remembering 'The Intimidator' at full throttle

By John Giannone, CNNSI.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- His nickname was positively perfect. Just as Earvin Johnson was Magic, Walter Payton was Sweetness and Muhammad Ali the Greatest, Dale Earnhardt was auto racing's Intimidator.

It wasn't just a name -- it was a 200-mile-an-hour way of life. Just this week it was written that Earnhardt would run over his mother, wife -- even his racing son -- to pass Richard Petty and become the all-time Winston Cup Point Series champion.

It was the way he lived. It was the way he died -- at full throttle, on the final turn of the final lap of a race won by a driver in a car Earnhardt owned. With his namesake son right behind.

But while his chisled face and omnipresent dark glasses fed that image, away from  the steering wheel Earnhardt was different
-- genteel, kindhearted, peacock-proud  of his prodigy, the brash youngster who gladly accepted the specter of his father's
footsteps.

No driver in NASCAR -- now or  perhaps ever -- commanded Earnhardt's level of respect or passionate fanaticism.  From the moment he descended on the Winston Cup circuit in 1979, Earnhardt was enormously popular. That will never change ... not even now. The abject grief and makeshift shrines that dotted Daytona are a testament to that.

No one in this sport's history had an easier time speeding into Victory Lane at the birthplace of speed. Thousands of races have been run at Daytona in 42 years. Hundreds of brave men have braced themselves around its fabled high turns and inviting straightaways.

Several have tasted success at Daytona. Dale Earnhardt feasted on it -- 34 times,  more than the next two most successful racers combined.

That is the Earnhardt legacy. That is why his death Sunday will leave such a lasting and profound impression. It will raise questions -- about the sport's safety,  about fate ... questions with no real answers.

Just this week, Earnhardt said the best is yet to come, that there is another championship to win. Sadly, there are no more races for Earnhardt. For his millions of fans -- already dressed in his familiar black color scheme -- the  mourning begins.