Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Robert Wickens was airlifted to the nearby hospital after a huge airborne crash in IndyCar’s race at Pocono Raceway.
Canadian driver Wickens is said to be ‘alert and awake’ after a violent crash on Lap 9 at Turn 2 in the race at Pocono while battling Andretti Autosports’ Ryan Hunter-Reay for track position on one of the six oval courses on the calendar.
Videos showed Hunter-Reay ahead of Wickens as the IndyCar rookie tried a move on the inside when his front right touched the right rear of Hunter-Reay’s car, sending him into a spin but Wickens himself going airborne into the fence.
The #6 SPM car was in tatters after hitting the fence hard before settling down across the circuit. It quickly turned into a multi-car pile-up with SPM’s James Hinchcliffe, Rahal Letterman’s Takuma Sato and Dale Coyne Racing’s Pietro Fittipladi also involved.
Wickens was extracted from the car and airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for further checks after spending some time in the medical center, but official word from IndyCar had good news for him for the time being.
Both Hunter-Reay and Sato were released from the medical center immediately with Hinchcilffe and Fittipaldi spent more time for few x-rays as a precautionary measure. The race was red-flagged with Andretti’s Alexander leading Team Penske’s Will Power.
UPDATE: Following the incident and check in the hospital, SPM released a statement on Wickens suffering injuries to his lower body, right hand and spine, adding he also sustained a pulmonary contusion.
“Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens is being treated for injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine following an incident in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway.
“He also sustained a pulmonary contusion. He will undergo an MRI and probable surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest. Further updates on his condition will be provided when available.”