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IndyCar driver Justin Wilson saves 6 lives by donating organs
“Justin was a loving father and devoted husband, as well as a highly competitive racing driver who was respected by his peers“.
Justin Wilson will be buried in his native England, and the American service for the late IndyCar driver who resided in southwest Weld County will be in Indianapolis, his brother said Wednesday.
“He was the best role model that anyone could have, you know”, Stefan said. “He was a champion!”
Wilson died after suffering a head injury caused by a piece of debris from another auto on the Pennsylvania track on Sunday. The organization said he was surrounded by his family when he passed away. He was unconscious when he was transported by helicopter after the crash to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa., and IndyCar officials announced Sunday night he was in a coma.
A flood of sympathy flowed from motorsports fans to the wife and two daughters the 37-year-old driver left behind.
He also competed in Formula One in 2003 with Minardi and Jaguar. In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up for Wilson children.
Wilson’s death is the first within the IndyCar community since Dan Wheldon died in a fiery accident in 2011.
Wilson once said that his injuries and Wheldon’s death did nothing to change his perspective or make him question his career choice.
He recorded seven wins in Cart and IndyCar races, his most recent coming in Texas in 2012.
Wilson was 37 and is survived by his wife, Julia, and young daughters Jane and Jessica. “Justin was a great professional driver and extremely good at his craft”.
Information from the Associated Press was included in this report. To me, it’s acceptable. But he clearly takes some solace in knowing that a part of his brother literally lives on, and several other families are undoubtedly grateful.
The tragedy has renewed calls for safety, ban on open wheel racing and the need for closed cockpits in such races, where cars zoom along at speeds of 370 km/h (230 mph), to minimize the damage in such freak incidents.
