IndyCar driver Justin Wilson dies of head injury from Pocono crash



INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has died from a head injury suffered when a piece of debris struck him at Pocono Raceway. He was 37.


IndyCar made the announcement on Monday night at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wilson is a British driver who lived outside Denver, in Longmont, Colorado. He was hit in the head during Sunday's race by piece of debris that had broken off another car after a crash.

Wilson's car veered into an interior wall at the track, and he was swiftly taken by helicopter to an Allentown, Pennsylvania, hospital.

A native of Sheffield, England, Wilson recorded seven career Indy car victories -- the most recent in 2012 at Texas Motor Speedway -- and eight pole starts in 174 races.

The last IndyCar driver to die because of an on-track incident was Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon, who was killed in the 2011 season finale at Las Vegas after his head hit a post when his car went airborne.

Wilson is survived by his wife, Julia, and two daughters.

His younger brother, Stefan, is an accomplished race car driver who has competed in the Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights. Funeral arrangements are pending.

In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up for Wilson's children. Donations may be sent to: Wilson Children's Fund, c/o INDYCAR, 4551 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222.