IndyCar driver Justin Wilson dies after suffering a head injury at Pocono Raceway

Home Top

Blindfolded and barefoot, the French train terrorist who 'watched a jihadi video minutes before leaving his seat armed with an assault rifle, 270 rounds, a pistol and petrol' in attack foiled by Americans
$MOBILE, AL - AUGUST 21: Donald Trump campaign rally in Mobile. August 21, 2015. Photo Credit: Al Graham / Retna Ltd. /MediaPunch\n© MPI / eyevine\n\nFor further information please contact eyevine\ntel: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709\ne-mail: info@eyevine.com\nwww.eyevine.com$ IT'S WAR: Fox News chief demands apology from Donald Trump after he slams Megyn Kelly AGAIN and retweets message calling her a 'bimbo'
Now Joe Biden's son is caught in Ashley Madison hack: Hunter says account is 'not mine'- but why was credit card registered to his address used to pay site?
Wall St. has its sharpest rally this year, and recovers one day after China slowdown fears caused panic
Is YOUR partner cheating on you? As Ashley Madison's adulterers are exposed, relationship experts reveal seven ways to work out if someone is being unfaithful
Man who jumped White House fence earlier this year is killed after storming Pennsylvania courthouse sheriff with a knife
Student accused of rape at elite prep school 'bragged to his friends about having sex with 15-year-old girl' after using 'every trick in the book' to seduce her
The hidden science behind dating success: Psychologist reveals the simple seven-step guide to make sure he comes back for more
From Facebook founder to trust fund kids - the world's 20 richest billionaires under 35... and how they worked for (or were just given) their money
Subway Jared's foundation 'was a sham': It never gave a single grant and more than HALF its money went directly into the pockets of his fellow 'pedophile' director
United States to deploy stealth F-22 fighter jets to Europe in response to Russian advances in the Crimea
Desperate family smash into tomb of pregnant teenager who woke up screaming and banging on her coffin after being buried ALIVE... only for her to die in hospital
Shouted at in the street, pelted with rocks and called sexy: Women reveal what wearing a hijab is REALLY like on anonymous confessions app
Saudi Arabia condemned for executing 175 people in 12 months... with half of those put to death foreign nationals
Father of hero National Guardsman blasts political-correctness brigade for being terror apologists after French train attack
Mystery hero of the train terror attack is American professor: Academic was first to respond and was shot when he spotted suspicious gunman in bathroom - prompting airman to take him down
EXCLUSIVE: 'Hillary is lonely, has trouble expressing her feelings and yearns for an intimate relationship with a powerful woman,' claims noted shrink who puts the presidential hopeful on the couch
I stand by saying 'anchor babies' says Jeb - but it's Asian not Hispanic immigrants who are taking advantage of America's laws
EXCLUSIVE: A Maserati, a Ferrari, a Bentley, a Porsche (and supermodel Christie Brinkley) - the VERY one per cent turnout to raise funds for Hillary Clinton's efforts to 'shuffle the pack'
As stocks plunge in value, Trump says: I told you so! Tycoon blames market drama on the American economy's strong links with China
Former attorney general says classified email scandal 'disqualifies' Hillary Clinton from serving as president - IF she's prosecuted for breaking federal law
EXCLUSIVE: A cheat AND a liar - how Real Housewives of New York star Kristen Taekman's husband Josh denied betraying her for years on Ashley Madison - despite 62 paid transactions - then only admitted he had 'signed up'
TWO reality star husbands dragged into Ashley Madison scandal as Daily Mail Online reveals RHONY husband is a user and now Snooki's husband is named as account holder too
One of the smallest cars in America is also the most hated: Fiat ranks last in consumer survey while drivers like Lexus the most

The 37-year-old former Formula One driver died on Monday evening
Wilson was hit in the head by a large piece of debris that broke off Sage Karam's car when it spun into a wall at Pocono Raceway on Sunday
It knocked Wilson unconscious and his car veered into an interior wall
Wilson, who had a wife and two young daughters, was swarmed by the safety crew at the raceway in Pennsylvania and taken to hospital

By Kelly Mclaughlin For Dailymail.com and Associated Press and Reuters

Published: 20:18 EST, 24 August 2015 | Updated: 07:50 EST, 25 August 2015

192

View
comments

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson died on Monday after sustaining a head injury when he was hit by a large piece of debris that broke off a car in the crash-filled race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.

Wilson, 37, was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition after debris broke off Sage Karam's car when he spun into the wall during the closing laps of the penultimate race in the IndyCar Series.

Wilson, a former Formula One driver, was swarmed by the safety crew after he was struck in the head and his car veered left and directly into an interior wall at the raceway in Pennsylvania.

His family released a statement on Monday to announce the British driver's death.

Scroll down for videos

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, 37 (pictured on Saturday during qualifying for Sunday's race), died on Monday after sustaining a head injury during the Pocono IndyCar 500 auto race

Wilson was airlifted to the hospital (above) in critical condition on Sunday but he died the following day

Wilson (circled) is hit by a large piece of flying debris that broke off Sage Karam's car (next to him in yellow)

The former Formula One driver's car (circled) veered left and hit an interior wall at the Pennsylvania raceway

Wilson walks on the pit road on Saturday

'With deep sadness, the parents of Justin Wilson, Keith and Lynne, his wife Julia, and his brother Stefan share the news that Justin passed away today after succumbing to injuries suffered during the Verizon IndyCar event at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, August 23,' it said.

'Justin was a loving father and devoted husband, as well as a highly competitive racing driver who was respected by his peers.

'The family would like to thank the staff at the Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital, Pocono Raceway, Andretti Autosport, and the Verizon IndyCar Series as well as the entire racing community for the amazing outpouring of support from fans around the world.

'The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wilson Children's Fund care of INDYCAR.'

Several of Wilson's peers took to Twitter to send support to the driver's family, including his wife and their two daughters, aged seven and five.

Danica Patrick, Jeff Gordon, Eric McClure, Tony Kanaan and Conor Daley were among drivers who remembered Wilson on Twitter.

Thousands of other users on the site wrote messages that included 'RIP' and the hashtag #JustinWilson.

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton tweeted: I am so devastated to hear of another passing of a great man & driver. I'd met Justin Wilson a few times growing up & he was the ultimate gentleman.'

Lewis Hamilton posted this picture and message on Instagram after hearing the sad news about Wilson

Justin is pictured here with his wife Julia and their two daughters in this Facebook photo from last year

Wilson is pictured with his two daughters, now aged seven and five, in a photo from last summer

Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co, the parent company of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said: '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.'

Wilson's wife was en route to Pennsylvania from their home in Colorado, while his younger brother, Stefan, also an IndyCar driver, was traveling from Indianapolis, when Wilson was injured in the crash.

Michael Andretti, car owner for Wilson and race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay said on Sunday night: 'It's just a tough one right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now. We're going to see. Hopefully, he's OK.'

IndyCar had a subdued victory lane - and Hunter-Reay was not sprayed with the traditional confetti.

The American said his thoughts were with Wilson, an extremely popular driver in the paddock who had won seven IndyCar races and had spoken out on behalf of his peers regarding safety and competition.

'All I know is that he was unconscious, he was not responding and he was airlifted,' Hunter-Reay said on Sunday. 'That's all very bad. I'm very worried right now.'

Formula 3000 Champion Justin Wilson with his father Keith at Silverstone in England in September 2001

Wilson had suffered several injuries in the last few years. In 2011, he broke a bone in his back at Mid-Ohio. He missed the final six races of the season and wore a back brace for more than two months as he was restricted from any physical activity.

The injury kept him out of the season finale at Las Vegas and the race where fellow racer Dan Wheldon died.

Wilson also broke his pelvis and suffered a bruised lung in the 2013 season finale at Fontana.

He said in 2012 his injuries and Wheldon's death did nothing to change his perspective or make him question his career choice.

'I've had the conversation with Julia - this is what we do, and you try to make the best plans if that ever happens,' Wilson told The Associated Press upon his return in 2012.

'You've got to know the risks and work out if those risks are acceptable. To me, it's acceptable. But I'm not going to stop trying to improve it.

'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. When it goes wrong, it can get messy.'

Rescue personal, center left, take Wilson to a waiting helicopter after Sunday's crash

Justin with his father Keith and mother Jane as he prepared for the Fosters Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne in March 2003

Wilson, who was born in Sheffield, England, entered this season without a full-time ride. He latched on with Andretti and was in the sixth of seven scheduled races with the team.

The deal was put together right before the season-opening race in March and initially started as just a two-race agreement at Indianapolis.

Sponsorship was found for another five races as the season progressed, and Wilson finished a season-best second earlier this month at Mid-Ohio.

He said after the race that he raced clean and did not take any risks that would have jeopardized eventual race-winner Rahal because Rahal was part of the championship race and Wilson was not.

Wilson won seven times over 12 seasons in open-wheel racing and finished as high as fifth in the Indianapolis 500.

An acclaimed sports car racer, he won the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona with Michael Shank Racing, and he competed in 20 Formula One races in 2003 before moving to the U.S. to join Champ Car.

He finished third in the Champ Car standings in 2005, and was runner-up in both 2006 and 2007. To support his career, his management team in 2003 created a program that allowed fans to invest in the driver.

Hundreds of people bought shares in Wilson, who was dyslexic and a strong supporter of foundations related to the disorder.

Throwback: Justin Wilson as a 15-year-old driver at his family home near Sheffield, England in 1993

The accident was a grim reminder of the dangers of open-wheel racing.

Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died in 2011 after his car became ensnared in a fiery 15-car pileup, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Wheldon's head hit a post in the fence and he died instantly.

He was the last fatality in a form of racing that saw drivers Scott Brayton (1996), Tony Renna (2003) and Paul Dana (2006), among others, die after wrecks.

After Wheldon's death, Wilson became one of three driver representatives to serve as a liaison between the competitors and IndyCar.

It was no surprise: The 6-foot-4 Wilson, easily the tallest in the series, was well liked by everyone in the series.

Wilson in the blue car earlier in Sunday's race. He won seven times in 12 seasons in open-wheel racing

Sunday's race resumed after the Karam and Wilson's accident with seven laps remaining and Hunter-Reay picked his way through the field.

He passed Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato and then used a bold inside pass of leader Gabby Chaves to take the lead with five to go.

Chaves then appeared to have an engine failure that brought out the caution with three to go. The race ended under yellow.

Hunter-Reay tried to get an update on Wilson before the race resumed, and again before he climbed from his race-winning Honda.

'I thought Justin was OK the whole time, and I thought he was in the ambulance with Sage heading off to get a routine check,' Hunter-Reay said.

Josef Newgarden was second and IndyCar points leader Montoya finished third.

Graham Rahal, who was second in the standings at the start of the race, was involved in an early crash. Montoya's cushion went from nine points to 35 with next Sunday's finale in Sonoma set to decide the title.

The finale is worth double points, and six drivers will head to California in contention for the title. Hunter-Reay is mathematically eliminated, but picked up his second win of the season in what's been a disappointing year for Andretti and Honda.

Hunter-Reay was one of many who was discussing safety measures - and not his win - for the open-cockpit series.

'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.'