IndyCar officials said that British driver JUSTIN WILSON died on Monday after suffering a "severe head injury during a wreck in the closing laps of a race the previous day at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania," according to Steve Ginsberg of REUTERS. He was 37. Wilson, a former F1 driver and seven-time winner in IndyCar racing, "had been in critical condition in a coma at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, before his death." Wilson was the first IndyCar driver to die following a race accident since fellow Briton DAN WHELDON was killed in a fiery crash in Las Vegas in Oct. '11. Tributes to Wilson, "who is survived by his wife and two daughters," poured in from his fellow drivers and others in the motor racing world. New Zealander SCOTT DIXON, who won the Indy 500 in '08 from pole position, tweeted:
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REUTERS, 8/25).
F1 MOURNS: REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported the F1 community "mourned another death in the family." Compatriot and double world champion LEWIS HAMILTON said on Instagram, "I woke up this morning feeling positive in my heart until I read the news. I am so devastated to hear of another passing of a great man and driver." Briton JENSON BUTTON, the '09 world champion who attended the funeral of French F1 driver JULES BIANCHI a month ago and was a friend of Wheldon, "expressed his shock on Twitter." He tweeted, "The motorsport world comes to a standstill once again. I raced with Justin as far back as 1989 in karting and remember his smile was infectious, such a lovely guy." Red Bull Team Principal CHRISTIAN HORNER, whose team was previously Jaguar, "spoke of the sadness of all at the Milton Keynes factory." Horner: "Justin left his mark on many who worked with him during the Jaguar days, he is remembered fondly for the kind and humble person he was" (REUTERS, 8/25).
