IndyCar: Wickens in stable condition after spinal surgery

INDIANAPOLIS – Titanium rods and screws were placed in IndyCar driver Robert Wickens’ spine during surgery to stabilize a thoracic spinal fracture associated with a spinal cord injury suffered during a terrifying wreck at Pocono Raceway.

While the surgery Monday was successful, the severity of the spinal cord injury remains undetermined. According to an IndyCar news release, the 29year-old Canadian driver is expected to have further surgeries to treat fractures in his lower extremities and right forearm. The Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver remains in stable condition.

The team released an additional statement Tuesday afternoon that Wickens’ No. 6 car will not be entered in this weekend’s Verizon IndyCar Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois.

The crash kicked off Sunday’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. On the sixth lap, and the first green flag lap because on an incident at the start, Wickens’ car launched into the fence and went careening through the air after he attempted to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay. The two drivers’ cars touched, causing Hunter-Reay’s car to crash into the wall and Wickens’ car to launch off HunterReay’s into the air and slam first against the wall, then into the outer fence. After colliding with the fence, Wickens’ car twisted through the air before re-engaging the track and spitting fire into the air.

Debris from the wreck sprayed all over the track. Wickens’ car was destroyed, as he was left sitting in nothing but his tub before medical personnel rushed to his assistance. Wickens was extracted from his car, placed on a stretcher with a neck brace and taken by ambulance to a helicopter that flew him to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

BOB GOSHERT/FOR INDYSTAR Robert Wickens is expected to have further surgeries to treat fractures.