IndyCar racer Justin Wilson was airlifted from the Pocono Raceway after he was seriously injured in a crash involving rookie driver Sage Karam Sunday. The accident happened on lap 179 of 200-lap race when Karam, in the lead at the time, lost control and spun exiting turn 1. Debris from Karam’s car scattered and it appeared that the nose piece from the car flew back and hit Wilson in the head. IndyCar racecars have open cockpits.
Wilson’s car veered to the left and hit the inside wall coming to rest back up on the track. Safety crews were on the scene almost immediately. Karam was slow to get from his car but did so after a few minutes and walked gingerly to a nearby ambulance. Safety workers then swarmed over the car of Wilson extricating the 36 year old after several minutes. He was rushed to another ambulance and shortly after airlifted to Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa., IndyCar officials said. Late Monday the Indycar Series announced that Wilson had succumbed to his injuries.
Wilson, who competed in an IndyCar last August to close the 2014 season, made his 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series debut in an Andretti Autosport car in the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 9 and also competed in the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 2, where he finished 21st. In five races this season, his best finish was a second at Mid-Ohio on August 2.
The native of Sheffield England, has seven victories and 26 podium finishes in 11 Indy car seasons. In seven Indianapolis 500 starts, Wilson has three top-10 finishes with a best of fifth in 2013. He qualified 14th the past two years. Wilson’s Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay won under caution on the 2.5-mile triangular oval Sunday.
“It’s a tough one right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now,” team owner Michael Andretti said after watching Reay, win the race under caution. Hunter-Reay was subdued in the silent winner’s circle.
“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. “I thought Justin was OK the whole time. I thought he was in an ambulance and was going to get a check.”
"All I heard was he was unconscious, not responding and he was airlifted," Hunter-Reay said during his post race press conference. "Those are obviously very bad details."
IndyCar officials later reported that Karam had been transported to the hospital via ground for an injury to his right foot.
Just after 8:00 p.m. ET, the IndyCar Series released the following statement:
"INDYCAR driver Justin Wilson suffered a severe head injury during today’s event at Pocono Raceway. Wilson is currently in a coma and in critical condition while undergoing further evaluation at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown Pa.
INDYCAR sends its thoughts and prayers to Justin, his family and Andretti Autosport during this difficult time.
Additional updates to Wilson’s condition will be released when available."
UPDATE: Monday afternoon the IndyCar Series released another statement:
"Verizon IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson remains hospitalized in a coma in the intensive care unit at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, Pa., after sustaining a severe head injury during Sunday's event at Pocono Raceway. He remains in critical condition.
INDYCAR continues to send its thoughts and prayers to the family and thanks the entire motorsports community for the outpouring of support.
Additional updates to Wilson's condition will be released when available."
Another update was provided later Monday evening by the IndyCarSeries:
"Verizon IndyCar Series driver Sage Karam, who was transported by ground to the hospital after the crash on Lap 180, was evaluated and released. According to Dr. Terry Trammell, INDYCAR medical consultant, CT scans revealed no broken bones for the Chip Ganassi Racing Teams driver from Nazareth, Pa. Karam, 20, will be re-evaluated before being cleared to drive.
"First and foremost, I just hope everything is OK with Justin Wilson," Karam said. "Justin is the priority and everything else is secondary at this point. As far as the race, we had a really great race car and I felt comfortable and in a position to be in striking distance for the win. The car just unfortunately came around on me in the middle of Turn 1 and I had no indication it was about to go."
Monday night came word from Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman and Co., the parent company of the Verizon IndyCar Series during a hastily called news conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that Wilson had passed away.
