British driver Justin Wilson was declared dead Monday after suffering a severe head injury during an IndyCar race in Pennsylvania, plunging the sport into mourning and triggering calls for a review of safety measures.
Wilson, 37, had been in a coma since Sunday, when a piece of debris from another racer’s car struck his helmet on the final laps of the “Tricky Triangle” at Pocono Raceway in the penultimate IndyCar Series race of the season.
Loved ones of the Sheffield-born Andretti Autosport racer had flown to be at his bedside at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown earlier Monday before his death was announced.
“This is a monumentally sad day for IndyCar and the motorsports community as a whole,” said Mark Miles, chief executive of the parent company which runs IndyCar and the 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.”
Legends of the motorsport world united in an outpouring of grief.
I raced with Justin as far back as 1989 in Karting and remember his smile was infectious, such a lovely guy. #RIPJustin
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) August 25, 2015
#RIPJustinWilson, my thoughts are with his family and friends. So sad, difficult to accept.
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) August 25, 2015
This sport can be so damn harsh. It breaks my heart. I wish Justin’s family all my love and support
— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) August 25, 2015
Wow, what a sad day. @justin_wilson was a good man. A great man. I had the pleasure of knowing him and pray for his family.
— Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) August 25, 2015
Wilson was hit by the nose cone of fellow driver Sage Karam’s car after it spun out on lap 179 of the 200-lap race.
The father of two was airlifted to the hospital immediately after the crash, and never regained consciousness.
Wilson had driven in major US open-wheel racing since the 2004 season.
He was driving a partial schedule in 2015 for Andretti, making his 174th IndyCar start. He recorded seven wins in CART and IndyCar races, his most recent coming at Texas in 2012.
Wilson’s death is the first fatality in IndyCar since the 2011 accident that claimed the life of fellow Briton Dan Wheldon, the 2005 IndyCar Series champion and a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.
