Leicester's hopes of promotion to the Barclays Premier League were ended as they were beaten on penalties by Cardiff in a rollercoaster play-off semi-final.
Trailing 1-0 after Sunday's first leg at the Walkers Stadium, the Foxes found themselves with a mountain to climb as Michael Chopra doubled the Bluebirds' advantage.
But they fought back to take a 3-2 aggregate lead courtesy of Matty Fryatt, an own goal from Bluebirds captain Mark Hudson and Andy King.
Yet Whittingham took the tie to extra time with his 25th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
A goalless extra period followed before Cardiff came out on top in a tense shootout after Yann Kermorgant tried to chip the ball into the net. But it all went sadly wrong.
David Marshall, on his back, stuck up a hand and palmed the weak effort away.
Then he produced a blinding save to keep out Martyn Waghorn.