IndyCar driver Robert Wickens, who had been injured in a serious crash on Aug. 19 at Pocono Raceway, confirmed via Instagram on Thursday night that he is paralyzed from the waist down.
The crash saw Wickens’ car spin into a wall and go spiraling into the air, leaving the car as a flaming wreck.
Since then, the Canadian driver has been through a series of surgeries to repair breaks in many parts of his body, including his neck, spine, hands, legs, and four ribs.
Wickens Seeks to End Confusion About Injuries
Wickens shared a new video of his rehabilitation on Thursday, along with a message that confirmed the extent of his injuries.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpYJKb-HmBj/?taken-by=robertwickens
“Did my first slide transfer as a paraplegic today,” Wickens wrote. “I’ve only been posting videos of the small movement in my legs, but the reality is I am far away from walking on my own. Some people are a big confused with the severity of my injury, so I wanted to let you know the reality of it. I’ve never worked harder for anything in my life, and I am giving it all I’ve got to spark those nerves in my legs.”
The 29-year-old Wickens is a Canadian driver from Guelph, Ontario. 2018 was his debut season with the IndyCar Series, in which he was driving with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He had previously driven on a number of different tours since 2005, spending most of 2012-2017 on the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series and once serving as a Formula One test driver.
Successful Rookie Season Ends in Tragedy
Wickens claimed the pole position in his first race at the 2019 St. Petersburg Grand Prix. While he did win any of his first 13 races, he finished on the podium four times, and was named the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after leading for two laps and finishing in ninth place.
The crash that led to Wickens’ injuries occurred during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. After an early restart, Wickens raced alongside Ryan Hunter-Reay heading into a turn. The two cars touched wheels, with Hunter-Reay being turned across the front of Wickens’ car, which resulted in Wickens’ vehicle being launched over Hunter-Reay, with his car breaking apart – as it was designed to do – when striking the catchfence.
In the days that followed, Wickens underwent spinal surgery, during which titanium rods and screws were placed in his spine. Further surgeries followed to address fractures in his arm and legs.
Wickens has received an outpouring of support from his fellow drivers. Four-time Champ Car World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais visited Wickens in the hospital while in Indianapolis for the end of season celebrations for the IndyCar series at the end of September.
“You look at Robbie and it puts things in perspective,” Bourdais told IndyCar.com. “I hope he comes back. He was pretty exceptional, to do what he did in his rookie year.”
While Wickens may be far away from walking, let alone driving, he has maintained his sense of humor, not to mention his desire to pilot vehicles that move as fast as possible. In a tweet he posted earlier this month, he asked if any Formula E teams could help him speed up his electric wheelchair – without the hospital staff catching on, of course.
ATTENTION ANY @FIAFormulaE TEAMS OR STAFF
How can I make my electric wheel chair faster without the hospital knowing?
Thanks,
RW— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) October 9, 2018
