We have some extremely sad and difficult news to report tonight, as IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has succumbed to the injuries sustained yesterday at the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono, and has passed away at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Justin Wilson dead at age 37
Justin Wilson, 37, was surrounded by his family at the hospital following the crash where he was rendered unconscious following the strike of a nosecone to his helmet. He was left in a coma overnight, and his passing w pas announced by Hulman and Company CEO Mark Miles shortly after 9 p.m. eastern time this evening.
Remembered fondly as the “gentle giant” of IndyCar, the British born driver, Wilson began his racing career in the European formula ranks. He would race in Formula One for a brief period, before heading stateside to race in Champ Car. He would continue to race open wheels in America after Champ Car merged with IndyCar in 2008, and won a total of seven times in the series. Wilson, who was racing for Andretti Autosport at Pocono, had also run Formula E races for the same team during the last year.
We here at Last Word on Sports send our thoughts and prayers to the Wilson family, his team Andretti Autosport, and the entire IndyCar and motorsports community, as well as his fans and all those who mourn his tragic passing.
FONTANA, CA – AUGUST 29: Justin Wilson of England driver of the #19 Dale Coyne Racing during qualifying for the Verizon IndyCar Series MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championship Race at the Auto Club Speedway on August 29, 2014 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
