Justin Wilson, the IndyCar driver who was hit in the head by debris during a Pocono Raceway crash and airlifted to an Allentown, Pennsylvania, hospital in a coma, died from his injuries.
He was 37 years old.
“This is a monumentally sad day for IndyCar and the motorsports community as a whole,” said IndyCar CEO Mark Miles in a statement reported by Yahoo Sports. “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 is the first IndyCar Series driver to die on the racetrack since 2011, when Dan Wheldon was killed from head injuries he suffered during a crash. Wheldon had been racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
