Justin Wilson tragically dies after an IndyCar race in the US

The Formula One community awoke with heavy hearts on Tuesday after British racer Justin Wilson, a friend to many in the grand prix paddock, died because of head injuries suffered in an IndyCar race in the United States.

The 37-year-old, who raced in Formula One for Minardi and Jaguar in 2003, died in hospital after being hit by debris and crashing in the closing laps at Pocono Raceway oval in Pennsylvania.

Formula One drivers and teams, former colleagues and rivals, remembered Wilson as a smiling giant out of the car and determined competitor in it.

"The motorsport world comes 2 a standstill once again," 2009 world champion Jenson Button, who attended the funeral of French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi a month ago, said of his compatriot on Twitter.

“I raced with Justin as far back as 1989 in karting and remember his smile was infectious, such a lovely guy,” added the McLaren driver.

The sentiment was echoed by Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, a pallbearer at Bianchi’s funeral. “So sad to hear that Justin Wilson passed away. What dreadful news and what a dramatic year for racing. Losing too many champions,” he said.

Tributes

Button's double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso, who like Wilson started his Formula One career at Minardi, expressed his condolences. "So sad, difficult to accept," he added.

Australian Mark Webber, who was Wilson’s team mate at Jaguar, said: “Last night a very good man left us. Mate. So sorry. RIP Justin. My thoughts are with your loved ones.”

Red Bull principal Christian Horner, whose team was previously Jaguar, spoke of the sadness of all at the Milton Keynes factory.

“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,” he said in a statement.

“Having known Justin since his karting days on the British circuits, it was always obvious to me that he was destined for great things in motorsport.

“His progress through the lower formulas was impressive and he absolutely flourished in F3000...I followed his successful career with interest over the years.

“Justin will be remembered not only as a talented driver but also as quite simply one of the nicest blokes in motorsport,” said Horner.

Formula One champions Mercedes remembered “a great driver and an even greater man...a true racer and a winner, flat out to the flag.”

Concern

The latest tragedy though has once again raised questions about the safety of motor racing and prompted calls for the introduction of closed cockpits.

Wilson slammed into a wall after he was struck in the helmet by debris from another car he was following. He was airlifted to hospital but never regained consciousness.

As the tributes began flowing in following the announcement of his death, there were also renewed calls for a review of safety in the sport.

“Safety is not one of those things that because you have a clear record for a certain amount of time that you stop doing development,” former race driver Eddie Cheever told ESPN.

“I think that it is time that solutions are looked for and I think it is time that the drivers got together and came up with a few ideas and I sincerely hope that some progress will be made on this issue.”

Since 1966 there have been 18 deaths in IndyCar, including the series' previous incarnations as Champ Car, CART and Indy Racing League. Eight alone have come at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and all but two on ovals.

The last driver killed in IndyCar was Wilson’s fellow Englishman Dan Wheldon, who died in a fiery crash at Las Vegas in 2011, a year after he had won the Indy 500 for a second time.

Safety reviews

His death also triggered calls for safety reviews, including suggestions that open wheel racing be banned on high-speed, oval tracks, where tightly-packed cars reach speeds of 370 km/h (230 mph).

Indycar officials have introduced a raft of new safety measures over the years, including safer walls and collapsible barriers designed to cushion impact as well as installing mobile hospitals and state-of-the-art trauma centres at race tracks.

IndyCar did not make any comments immediately after announcing Wilson’s death, out of respect for his family, but said they would comment in the next few days.

“We’re always looking at ways to make this sport safer,” Wilson’s team mate Ryan Hunter-Reay said immediately after the race.

“First we had the innovation with the safer barrier. Oval tracks in general, we need to start looking into the next 20 years, maybe making the walls a little bit higher. Maybe coming up with something a little bit better than just mesh fencing and poles.

“We need to start moving forward on it. And IndyCar has always been at the forefront of safety. I give them a lot of credit for that.”

Wilson’s accident was reminiscent of several other incidents when drivers have been hit by debris, sparking calls for the introduction of plastic canopies to create closed cockpits.

In 2009, Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa was struck in the helmet by a spring from another car. Massa underwent surgery and made a full recovery.

In 2014, Canadian IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe was hit in the helmet by debris and suffered concussion.

“These cars are inherently dangerous with the open cockpit like that, head exposed,” Hunter-Reay said.

“Maybe in the future we can work towards some type of...canopy, not a full jet fighter canopy, but something that can give us a little protection but keep the tradition of the sport.”