IndyCar driver Stefan Wilson is hospitalized with a neck brace after a serious accident in practice for the Indy 500 – eight years after his brother died on the track
- Wilson and Katherine Legge were on Turns 1 and 2 when they crashed
- It was the first wreck of the two-week preparation for the 107th running of the race
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Stefan Wilson was hospitalized Monday after a serious accident while practicing for the Indianapolis 500.
After a serious accident involving Katherine Legge in training, Wilson was placed on a stretcher and taken to hospital by ambulance.
It was the first accident in the two-week run-up to the 107th edition of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Wilson was immobilized and wearing a neck brace, but was quick to give a thumbs-up after the security team spent about ten minutes carefully extricating him from his crumpled car. Legge got out of her plane alone.
The two drove through Turns 1 and 2 about an hour into the two-hour practice session when the entire field appeared to be slowing.
Stefan Wilson was hospitalized after a serious accident in practice for the Indianapolis 500
The security team spent about ten minutes carefully extricating him from his wrinkled car
Wilson (left) crashed with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Katherine Legge (right)
Legge quickly closed in on Wilson and crashed into the rear of his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car, causing it to slide against the wall. Legge ricocheted off with a graze shot, but Wilson was hit almost head-on as he touched the SAFER barrier.
“I can tell you he’s fine,” said Dr. IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief medical officer Julia Vaizer added that Wilson will be taken to the hospital for expanded imaging. “He’s in a good mood.”
Wilson’s brother Justin Wilson was the last IndyCar driver to be killed at the track. He was racing at Pocono in 2015 when Sage Karam crashed in front of him and part of his car hit Wilson in the helmet, throwing him into a wall.
The pair drove through Turns 1 and 2 about an hour into the two-hour practice session
Legge is the only female driver in this year’s field and she was the only driver for the struggling Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to make it onto the 33-car grid on day one of qualifying.
Christian Lundgaard and Jack Harvey joined her on Sunday as Harvey edged out teammate Graham Rahal in the final seconds with a dramatic qualifying run.
It was unclear if Legge’s car could be repaired or if she would be granted the use of an entirely new chassis.
“I know it’s another blow to the team,” she said. ‘After yesterday these guys don’t deserve it.’ That’s not right.’