IndyCar driver in coma after accident

LONG POND — IndyCar driver Justin Wilson (picture) is in a coma and in critical condition after sustaining a head injury when he was hit by a large piece of debris that broke off a car in the crash-filled race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.

Wilson drove briefly in Formula 1 in the 2003 season, first with Minardi and then with Jaguar Racing at the tail end of the season.

IndyCar released the information on the Briton’s condition and said he was undergoing further evaluation at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown.

The accident took place after the Ganassi Racing Chevrolet car of Sage Karam, who was leading the field, spun on its own in Turn 1 on Lap 179 of the 200-lap race. As parts from his car littered the track, one of the pieces, which appeared to be a nose cone from Karam’s car, struck Wilson trailing behind.

Wilson’s car immediately veered to the left and into the inside wall. Safety workers worked frantically to extricate the 37-year-old from his Andretti Autosport Honda before airlifting the injured driver to the hospital by helicopter.

“It’s just a tough one right now,” said Michael Andretti, owner of Wilson’s team. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now. Hopefully, he’s okay.”

IndyCar had a subdued victory lane and Wilson’s team-mate and eventual race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay was not sprayed with the traditional confetti. The 34-year-old said his thoughts were only with the injured Wilson, an extremely popular driver in the paddock who speaks on behalf of his peers regarding safety and competition.

“All I know is that he was unconscious, he was not responding and was airlifted,” he said. “That’s all very bad. I’m very worried right now.”

Hunter-Reay was one of many drivers who were discussing safety measures — and not his win — for the open-cockpit series.

“Maybe in the future we can work toward something that resembles a canopy,” he added. “Something that can give us a little bit of protection and still keep the tradition of the sport. Just to be an innocent bystander like that and get hit in the head with a nose cone is a scary thought.”

Wilson, a native of Sheffield, England, entered this season without a full-time ride. He latched on with Andretti and was in the sixth of seven scheduled races with the team. The deal was put together right before the opening race in March and initially started as just a two-race agreement at Indianapolis. AP