Many fans met him at autograph sessions or at personal appearances. Many collected souvenirs and mementos from his career. We felt like we knew his wife and family, we felt like we knew his race team, we witnessed so many of his greatest moments, either in person at the speedway or on television. We also saw his final moments, and that compounds the pain for many. Those stories are what people want to share.
Sharing is perhaps the best place to start.
Bottling up your pain after losing someone special is harmful on a number of levels. There's an emotional level, but there's also a physical level. Grief manifests itself in a number of physiological ways, including headaches, stomach upset, aching muscles, back pain, and fatigue. The best way to start the grieving process is to open up and talk about your feelings. Many people have expressed their comfort in being able to respond to so many of the bulletin boards, guest books, and forums found online.