37-year-old driver Justin Wilson from Sheffield appeared to have been struck in the head by debris from Sage Karam’s car when it crashed in front of him during the final laps on the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway during the penultimate race of the season.
English driver Justin Wilson was in critical condition in a coma on Sunday night after suffering a severe head injury in an IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway, IndyCar officials said.
“Verizon IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson sustained a severe head injury during today’s event at Pocono Raceway,” IndyCar said in a brief statement hours after the race ended.
“Wilson is currently in a coma and in critical condition while undergoing further evaluation at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
“IndyCar sends its thoughts and prayers to Justin, his family and Andretti Autosport during this difficult time.”
Officials said updates on Wilson’s condition would be released when available.
The popular 37-year-old driver from Sheffield appeared to have been struck in the head by debris from Sage Karam’s car when it crashed in front of him during the final laps on the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway during the penultimate race of the season.
Karam was leading when his Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet spun on lap 179 of the 200 lap race. He was able to exit his car and was treated for a foot injury.
A piece of Karam’s car, possibly the nose cone, appeared to strike Wilson, whose car then swerved into a wall.
It’s not the first time that a driver has been injured when hit in the head by debris in recent years.
James Hinchcliffe suffered a concussion when he was hit by flying parts at the 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
Wilson’s race-winning Andretti Autosport team-mate Ryan Hunter-Reay said he had been told Wilson was “unconscious and not responding”.
“That’s obviously very bad details,” Hunter-Reay said.
“It’s just a tough one right now,” team owner Michael Andretti. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now. We’re going to see. Hopefully, he’s OK.”
Wilson has driven in major US open-wheel racing since the 2004 season.
He was driving a partial schedule in 2015 for Andretti Autosport, making his 174th IndyCar start.
He has seven wins in CART and IndyCar races, his most recent coming at Texas in 2012.
A married father of two daughters, Wilson lives in Colorado with his wife, Julia.
His brother Stefan Wilson, also a racing driver, tweeted that both he and Julia Wilson would travel to Pennsylvania to be with him.