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Watch: IndyCar Driver Choppered to Hospital After One of the Nastiest Wrecks You'll Ever See

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A horrific crash Sunday at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania resulted in one of the drivers being airlifted to a local hospital by helicopter.

At the ABC Supply 500 Series IndyCar race, driver Robert Wickens was trying to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay on lap six when he crashed into the wall.

His car lifted into the air and spun like a propeller over the wall and into the safety fence along the track. It hit the fence and then launched back into the track, spinning as pieces of the vehicle flew everywhere, causing one other car to wipe out and others to avoid it.

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Thankfully, Wickens survived the crash, but had to be airlifted to a local hospital having suffered several injuries. News reports said he was “awake and alert” after the crash.

Schmidt Peterson Racin issued a statement Sunday night with an update on his condition.

“Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens is being treated for injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine following an incident in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. He also sustained a pulmonary contusion.

“He will undergo an MRI and probable surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest. Further updates on his condition will be provided when available,” the statement Schmidt Peterson continued.

Wickens’ fellow racers were concerned about his recovery.

“That’s the worst thing you can see. He’s hurt. He’s awake and alert, and at least he’s alive,” driver Sebastien Bourdais said, according to ESPN.

The race had to be stopped while crews cleaned up the track and repaired the fence. Alexander Rossi wound up winning, but wasn’t in the mood for a victory party.

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“It’s tough to really celebrate after what happened,” Rossi said, reported ESPN.

Several drivers, including James Hinchcliffe, Takuma Sato and Pietro Fittipaldi, were caught up in the wreck, but were not injured.

“I just hope Robert’s all right. I was lucky to get out of that one. He had a run out of Turn 1, came up along the side of me, but I was in the draft of [Will] Power in front of me, so I started pulling ahead,” Hunter-Reay told Formula Rapida.

“Once we got to Turn 2, he was at my left rear corner at best. I even gave room. I left a lane; left a half of a lane, if not more. I was pretty shocked I got hit in the back,” Hunter-Reay added. “That is neither here nor there right now. We’re just thinking about Robert.”

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Dave is a lifelong sports fan who has been writing for The Wildcard since 2017. He has been a writer for more than 20 years for a variety of publications.
Dave has been writing about sports for The Wildcard since 2017. He's been a reporter and editor for over 20 years, covering everything from sports to financial news. In addition to writing for The Wildcard, Dave has covered mutual funds for Pensions and Investments, meetings and conventions, money market funds, personal finance, associations, and he currently covers financial regulations and the energy sector for Macallan Communications. He has won awards for both news and sports reporting.
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