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IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has died as a result of injuries that occurred during the closing laps of Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway. He suffered a head injury when he was hit by debris from a crash with just 21 laps to go. Wilson was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital where he remained in a coma until he passed away.
The crash happened when race leader Sage Karam spun in Turn 1 and debris flew from his car. After the debris hit him, Wilson hit the SAFER barrier of the inside wall head on. The medical units were on the scene quickly to help the unconscious driver and got him on the helicopter to be airlifted to the hospital.
Wilson was a 37-year-old British driver in his 8th season on the IndyCar circuit. He had one top 5 finish in 6 starts this season and was 24th in points. He entered the season without a full-time ride, but he signed on with Andretti Autosport.
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Wilson had 7 wins and 47 top 5 finishes in his 13-year Champ Car and IndyCar career.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Wilson’s teammate with the Andretti team, won the race. His joy was tempered quickly when he learned how serious Wilson’s injuries were.
“All I heard was he was unconscious, not responding and he was airlifted,” Hunter-Reay said after the race. “Those are obviously very bad details. I’m very worried right now.”
Now the talk turns to driver safety. The open cockpit is being looked at and changes may be coming.
“Maybe in the future we can work toward something that resembles a canopy,” Hunter-Reay said. “Something that can give us a little bit of protection and still keep the tradition of the sport. Just to be innocent bystander like that and get hit in the head with a nose cone is a scary thought.”
Wilson had missed the final six races in 2011 after he broke a bone in his back. One of the races that he missed was the one that Dan Wheldon died in a crash that sent him into the catch fence.
When Wilson returned to racing in 2012, he asked about his injuries and Wheldon’s death, he responded, “All the drivers, this IndyCar, we’re always trying to make it safer, but at the end of the day, it’s a race car. We’re racing hard, we’re racing IndyCars and it’s fast.”
Wilson’s family released a statement on Monday announcing his passing.
