IndyCar racer Justin Wilson has died after suffering a head injury in a crash involving fellow driver Sage Karam on Sunday at the Pocono Raceway, the racing organization announced Monday night.
Wilson, 37, had been in a coma at a Pennsylvania hospital since the crash. He struck in the head by flying debris, possibly the nosecone, from Karam’s race car during the ABC Supply 500 race Sunday afternoon.
“This is a monumentally sad day for INDYCAR and the motorsports community as a whole,” Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said in a statement. “Justin’s elite ability to drive a race car was matched by his unwavering kindness, character and humility — which is what made him one of the most respected members of the paddock. As we know, the racing industry is one big family, and our efforts moving forward will be focused on rallying around Justin’s family to ensure they get the support they need during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Wilson is survived by his wife, Julia, and two daughters. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized. His brother, Stefan Wilson, who is also an open-wheel race car driver who has driven on a lower level of IndyCar, tweeted after Justin’s death:
Can’t even begin to describe the loss I feel right now. He was my Brother, my best friend, my role model and mentor. He was a champion!
He never stopped giving & caring for others. Even at this time. He had pre-chosen to donate his organs to help others in need. #myherojw
“In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up for Wilson children. Donations may be sent to: Wilson Children’s Fund, c/o INDYCAR, 4551 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222,” IndyCar said in a press release.
The crash stunned the racing world on Sunday, with support pouring out for Wilson, a well-liked driver whose nickname was “Badass.”
Med-Evac leaving @poconoraceway with Justin Wilson to hospital in Allentown, Pa. @IndyCar http://t.co/B1jrah01d1
Scary scenes at Pocono, which is still under prolonged caution. Justin Wilson airlifted after being struck by debris from Sage Karam’s car.
Justin Wilson is being airlifted to Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital. No additional information is available at this time.
Read more about Wilson at the link below:
The video of the crash shows Karam’s yellow and red car, which is ahead of Wilson, lose control and spin around into the wall, nose first. Parts of Karam’s car fly off, as Wilson’s car passes by. The nosecone of the car appears to hit Wilson in the head before flying in the air. Wilson’s car then also crashes into the wall.
The crash happened with 21 laps to go in the race. Karam was leading the race at the time of the crash, which was restarted and ended under caution after another, unrelated incident. A slow motion replay shows the moment the debris hit Wilson:
Wilson, of Sheffield, England, has has been part of the IndyCar racing series since 2008 and is a member of Andretti Autosport with seven career victories. Wilson is the first Indy driver to die as a result of a crash since Dan Wheldon in 2011.
Karam, a 20-year-old racer from Pennsylvania, suffered a foot injury and was also taken to the hospital, the Indy Car series said. He offered his condolences on Twitter on Monday:
I can’t find the proper words to describe the pain and sympathy I feel for Justin and his family. #RIPJustin
“It’s a tough one right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now,” team owner Michael Andretti said, according to USA Today. Another Andretti Autosport driver, Hunter-Reay, won the race under caution after the crash. The celebration was subdued and brief, with no confetti.
“I saw the trucks around him. … First thoughts with Justin, for sure. He’s my friend. I have no details right now, so it’s a bit hard not knowing anything,” Hunter-Reay said after the race, according to USA Today. “I thought Justin was OK the whole time. I thought he was in an ambulance and was going to get a check.”
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Read more about the Indy Car accident and Justin Wilson in Spanish at AhoraMismo.com:
