Veteran IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has died of head injuries sustained in an accident Sunday at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. He was 37.
The announcement of the tragedy was made at a Monday press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Mark Miles, head of IndyCar parent company Hulman & Co.
Wilson had been in a coma since Sunday night after he was struck in the head by an errant nosecone. The cone came loose from the car driven by Sage Karam after it had hit the Turn 1 wall. Wilson's car then careened into the inside retaining wall.
In 173 starts in Champ Car competition and the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2004, Wilson won seven races and finished second twice.
Justin's brother Stefan Wilson, also an IndyCar driver, eulogized him:
I often told him, I just want to grow up to be half the man he is, as that will make me a pretty good man. pic.twitter.com/Q3hOCtu5Pv
— Stefan Wilson (@stef_wilson) August 25, 2015
The Sheffield, England, native endeared himself to his fellow drivers with not only his excellent skills behind the wheel, but also his gentle nature. He earned respect as well by overcoming dyslexia to excel. He spoke about that in a visit to an Indianapolis high school.
"I do think dyslexia has actually helped me," Wilson said. "It's pushed me to work harder in everything I do."
