MOTORSPORTS (2015): NASCAR - IndyCar - MotoGP - WRC - Otros

Falleció Justin Wilson... R.I.P.

IndyCar star Wilson succumbs to Pocono head injury
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By: Charles Bradley, Editor in Chief
6 minutes ago
IndyCar racer Justin Wilson has sadly passed away following his accident in Sunday’s 500-mile race at Pocono. He was 37.
Wilson succumbed to head injuries sustained on lap 180 when he struck the nose section from the debris of Sage Karam’s car, which had crashed out of the lead of the race ahead of him.

Wilson was unconscious when the Holmatro safety team arrived at the scene and was immediately airlifted to a local hospital, Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, Pa.

He was listed in critical condition and in a coma, from which he never woke.

Wilson won three races during his IndyCar career, the first coming at Detroit in 2008 for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.

He also won two races for the tiny Dale Coyne Racing operation – at Watkins Glen in 2009 and the Texas event in 2012, which was his first triumph on ovals.

He also finished in the top five in the 2013 Indy 500.

A hugely-successful racing career
Wilson started racing in 1995, in Formula Vauxhall Junior, and was also a multiple race winner in Formula Vauxhall with Paul Stewart Racing. He won the 1998 Formula Palmer Audi championship, and progressed to FIA Formula 3000, winning the title in 2001 with Nordic Racing.

Wilson made his Formula 1 debut in 2003 with Minardi. Although good results were difficult to achieve with the tiny squad, his performances were good enough to earn him a call-up to the Jaguar team to replace Antonio Pizzonia for the final five races of the season.

Wilson scored his first, and only, F1 World Championship point at that year’s United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis when he finished eighth.

After losing his drive to the well-funded Christian Klien for 2004, Wilson switched his attention to the United States, contesting the Champ Car World Series.

He made his debut with Conquest Racing before moving on to a highly successful partnership with the RuSPORT team.

He would score four race wins in Champ Cars at RuSPORT: two in 2005 (Toronto and Mexico City) plus one at Edmonton in 2006 and another at Assen in ’07. He subsequently moved to IndyCars.

The Sheffield-born driver won the 2012 Daytona 24 Hour sportscar classic with Michael Shank Racing, partnering AJ Allmendinger, Oswaldo Negri and John Pew. In a varied career he also raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula E, V8 Supercars, World Series by Nissan, FIA GT and the American Le Mans Series.

Wilson had been on the sidelines at the start of this season, but Andretti Autosport put together a part-time campaign and was highly-regarded by engine supplier Honda. He finished second in the recent Mid-Ohio event.

Motorsport.com sends its condolences to Justin’s family and many friends.

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 24, 2015) – INDYCAR announced that driver Justin Wilson, who enjoyed success in multiple motorsports series during a two-decade professional career, died today from a head injury suffered in the Verizon IndyCar Series race Aug. 23 at Pocono Raceway. He was 37.

“This is a monumentally sad day for INDYCAR and the motorsports community as a whole,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “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 was struck by debris from a single-car crash on Lap 180 of the 200-lap race on the 2.5-mile triangular oval. Wilson was attended to by the Holmatro Safety Team and airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa.

A native of Sheffield, England, Wilson recorded seven career Indy car victories – the most recent in 2012 at Texas Motor Speedway – and eight pole starts in 174 races. He totaled 711 career laps led, including two in the Aug. 23 race. He competed in Formula One in 2003 with Minardi and Jaguar, and his initial F1 points were scored that year in the U.S. Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He co-drove a Michael Shank Racing sports car entry to the overall victory in the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2012.

Wilson, a road cycling and mountain biking enthusiast, also was an ambassador for dyslexia, a learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading that challenged him as a youth. He often would speak to groups at the racetrack and visit schools near INDYCAR race venues.

Wilson is survived by his wife, Julia, and two daughters. His younger brother Stefan is an accomplished race car driver who has competed in the Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights. Funeral arrangements are pending. 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.

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