lucky boy
Posted on 08/19/2018 12:22:44 PM PDT by mabarker1
LONG POND, PA.—Canadian rookie Robert Wickens went soaring into the fence at Pocono Raceway in a scary wreck that brought Sunday’s IndyCar race to a halt.
Wickens connected with Ryan Hunter-Reay and shot into a 360-degree spin into the fence. The fence was destroyed and parts of Wickens’ Honda scattered over the track. Wickens was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
Hunter-Reay, Canadian James Hinchcliffe and Takuma Sato were among the drivers involved in the wreck. Hinchcliffe seemed to be in pain, grabbing his wrists as he slowly left his car.
What an awful crash. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. He is moving around in the car now.
The race was red flagged and drivers were allowed out of their cars.
Tony’s league just can’t stay out of the fences.
Per Indy Car: Robert Wickens is awake and alert taken to Leighhigh Valley Hospital via Medivac Chopper.
Very bad hit. Took out a bunch of the Catch Fence. Crews are looking at 1+ hours to repair it.
Race is under a Red Flag at this time.
I was waiting to Post this to find out what was going on with Robert Wickens Condition. Thank God it’s looking pretty good at this time.
Fence still under repair.
Thank You. I’m running off of Cell Phone connection.
PING
I was at Indy in turn one in ‘92 when Stan Fox climbed the fence and stopped in the middle of turn two with his legs sticking out the front of his car, that one ended Stans driving career. Very scary.
They have had problems at Pocono with Indy Cars lately.
Drivers were voicing opinions about the pace at the Start of the last few Races. Speed changes ranging from 1st-3rd gears. Pole sitter is supposed to maintain Pace Car Speed to Green Flag.
Wickens car was torn down to the Tub (or Safety Cell) and that is part of the design so the energy is dissipated.
Sweet Jesus!! (Although there’s nothing much sweet or divine about such a crash, other than that the driver survived due to some amazing safety engineering and perhaps some divine intervention / luck!)
Aug 25, 2015
Justin Wilson, a British racecar driver who was struck by debris from another car during the closing laps of the penultimate race in the IndyCar Series season, died Monday, racing officials said. He was 37.
Wilson was struck in the head on Sunday at Pocono Raceway by a piece of debris that broke off from the car of Sage Karam, who was leading the race before he crashed. Wilson had tried to avoid the subsequent pileup, but his car hit the debris and veered into an interior wall. He was airlifted to a hospital in Allentown, Pa., where he was in a coma in critical condition before he died.
“I can’t find the proper words to describe the pain and sympathy I feel for Justin and his family,” Karam wrote on Twitter on Monday night.
Wilson, a former Formula One driver and a seven-time winner during 12 seasons in open-wheel racing, began driving the No. 25 Honda for Andretti Autosport this season. In 2012, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona with Michael Shank Racing.
“This is a monumentally sad day for IndyCar and the motor sports community as a whole,” Mark Miles, the chief executive of Hulman & Co., the parent company of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said in a statement. “Justin’s elite ability to drive a racecar was matched by his unwavering kindness, character and humility — which is what made him one of the most respected members of the paddock.”
It was the second time in four years that the IndyCar Series lost one of its drivers because of an on-track episode. Dan Wheldon, a fellow Briton who won the Indianapolis 500 in 2011, died during that season’s finale, in Las Vegas, when his head hit a fence post after his car went airborne and crashed into it.
Wilson grew up in England racing go-karts with Wheldon, and they both decided to pursue their racing dreams in the United States. Off the track, Wilson worked to raise awareness about dyslexia after being found to have the learning disorder at 13.
At 6 feet 4 inches, Wilson was the tallest driver in the IndyCar Series, and his height and his nice-guy reputation earned him the nickname Gentle Giant among his peers.
Wilson lived outside Denver in Longmont, Colo., with his wife, Julia, and their two daughters, Jane Louise and Jessica Lynne. His younger brother, Stefan, is an aspiring IndyCar driver.
Stefan wrote on Twitter on Monday night: “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 added later: “He lived for this sport, he loved it. The only comfort I feel is that he lived a life he loved!”
His family, which includes his parents, Keith and Lynne, said in a statement that a trust fund had been set up for his daughters’ care.
“Justin was a loving father and devoted husband, as well as a highly competitive racing driver who was respected by his peers,” the family said.
In a statement, Andretti Autosport said it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Wilson, who finished a season-best second at Mid-Ohio in early August.
“He was a tremendous racer, a valuable member of the team and respected representative to our sport,” the team said. “While Justin was only part of the Andretti lineup for a short time, it only took a second for him to forever become part of the Andretti family. His life and racing career is a story of class and passion surpassed by none. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Wilson family and fans worldwide.”
The IndyCar season concludes Sunday in Sonoma, Calif.
Oh, how sad. The poor young man!
If you happen to talk to Mr. Wickens, tell him that I know a guy who works in a real auto body shop, but on the weekends does auto body work in his back yard for really cheap.
I bet he can buff that out.
Then years later (2001) in Germany Alex Zanardi barely survived the loss of His legs. He was saved by a FAST Emergency Worker/Crew getting Tourniquets applied quickly. Video
lucky boy
What a bone headed comment. You obviously have never been a race car when this all happens in split seconds. I have, and it can all go south regardless of the car even at 120 or 150, let alone the speeds Indy cars are ddoing.
Reports are Robert Wickens is awake and alert when brought to the Medical Facility at the Track and has been Airlifted to the Hospital. Still waiting on Injury Details. But so far it looks as good as can be.
Justin Wilson was in a lesser situation when He was hit and killed by Debris. See Post #11 above.
Racing has always been Very Dangerous, even more in the early years than now. Especially considering the increased Speeds.
Those “cars” need to be beefed up with larger bodies. It would slow them down also. Mandate NASCAR like frames and bodies.
Yes Sir ! What’s the saying ? “I’d rather be lucky than good.”
They just called for Drivers to the Cars.
Possibly some of the Owners are asking “Why are We going back to Racing?”
Sebastian Bordeaux is complaining about the Fence Repair...
View from a different camera here:
https://twitter.com/champwebdotnet/status/1031262079917928448
If you have access to Twitter.
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