- 53
- United States
- vettefreak95
Indeed. No one wants to crash; Sage must feel terrible being involved in this. Best wishes to Sage and the Wilson family.
Justin Wilson (1978-2015)
- Thread starter Bo
- 79 comments
- 4,574 views
- 12,893
- Divided States of America
- MikuHime80
Racing happens. With racing, as always, there's been a dark side. Motorsport is not a gentle sport. Its not like ball and stick sports where the worst that happens is a career-ending injury. In motorsport, there is much more danger, much more risk. But thats why we love it. Drivers and fans alike. We love the speed. We love the danger. That said, every time the drivers strap in, be it INDY, F1, NASCAR, or even the drivers at your local Karting track, know that could be the last time they will strap in. It's a shame, but death in Motorsport, in a way, is good. It allows for more development, more progress, and more safety. As are many other people, I'm shocked and depressed to see Justin go so soon. But on the silver lining, there will be a lot of heavy stress onto looking into the helmets, and cockpits safety and durability. Rest in peace Justin, my heart goes out to Sage, and Wilson's family. I don't believe in a higher power, but if there is one, I'm sure that Wilson, Wheldon, Bianchi, Earnhardt, Leffler, Senna, and so many others are turning laps right now. Aside from this freak accident, the race was fantastic, and a death should not end INDY's presence at Pocono.
But the main focus is on Justin. May he rest peacefully, he was doing what he loved to do, racing. RIP
But the main focus is on Justin. May he rest peacefully, he was doing what he loved to do, racing. RIP
- 24,631
- Anoka, MN
If there is one positive thing to have happened in this incident, it's the fact he held on long enough for his family to get to the hospital to say goodbye.
I'm kind of hoping Stirling Marlin reaches out to him considering he went through a similar thing when Earnhardt died.
I'm kind of hoping Stirling Marlin reaches out to him considering he went through a similar thing when Earnhardt died.
- 9,741
- Las Vegas UTC-8
- Wardez
- Wardez
So tragic. I don't believe this means that open cockpit needs to go, close calls like this happen so much in the sport, but the way this one went down was so freakish. The crash structure is just so strong. It also happened so fast the spotter couldn't relay anything fast enough. Maybe some new sort of warning system can help with this sort of thing? I know the incident will cause major discussion, for great reason of course.
If anything can be done to reduce the chance of this happening, they need to invest in it. Possibly going to closed, semi-closed, shielded (think motorcycles), on ovals only?
If anything can be done to reduce the chance of this happening, they need to invest in it. Possibly going to closed, semi-closed, shielded (think motorcycles), on ovals only?
Last edited:
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
Very unfortunate incident, as much as I believe open Cockpits have a place in the world Im not sure those in Charge will be keeping this philosophy anymore.
This is still hitting me quite hard.
RIP Justin, always felt like you got dealt the raw end of the stick despite your huge talent yet nothing stopped you enjoying the ride.
This is still hitting me quite hard.
RIP Justin, always felt like you got dealt the raw end of the stick despite your huge talent yet nothing stopped you enjoying the ride.
- 35,389
- Addison,Texas
- GTP_RACECAR
Got the news just before I logged in and my heart just sank. I was hoping this was not the news to hear but at the same time I knew it there was always the possibility. One thing I always liked was how Justin almost always drove for a smaller team and made it work, hence my avatar featuring one of those teams. My thoughts are with his family right now.
- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
Rest in peace, Justin Wilson... 
I'm sure this will spark all kinds of "how could this have be prevented?" or "racing is a deathsport" talk. Truly unfortunate. My thoughts and prayers are with Justin Wilson and all whom have known and loved him.
I'm sure this will spark all kinds of "how could this have be prevented?" or "racing is a deathsport" talk. Truly unfortunate. My thoughts and prayers are with Justin Wilson and all whom have known and loved him.
- 2,745
- Italy
- Yellohead
- Clydeyellow
I just found out that he had crashed, I'm completely, genuinely and utterly shocked. Another brave soul who's gone... Godspeed, mr. Wilson.
- 21,261
- United States
Transcript of the press conference from earlier. Popped up on my twitter after my previous post.
http://autoweek.com/article/indycar...speedway-press-conference-death-justin-wilson
http://autoweek.com/article/indycar...speedway-press-conference-death-justin-wilson
- 1,944
- It's cold here
- The_EH_Team_43
I only heard he was injured from my dad probably about 5 minutes after the press conference and then about 10 minutes after that I went looking for updates and saw he had died. I like Indycar, but I haven't gotten to watch very much since Dan Wheldon passed and I feel the exact same way as I did just about 4 years ago now. It's very difficult to describe but I would say it is despairing more than any other feeling. Justin wasn't really a driver I'd pull for, and I don't want to disgrace him by saying I didn't really notice him in the races I did watch but he was by no means a backmarker.
I didn't like it when Dan died and people said he died doing what he loved because he died in a way that would have definitely been frightening and no driver would want to crash the way he did. Justin, on the other hand was just avoiding a crash and probably didn't see the nose coming and then... it was suddenly lights out...
It's just an empty feeling, knowing he's just gone and his family are left without him. This sort of thing makes me feel the need to curl up in a dark pillowed corner and not get up for a very long time. In 2011 I couldn't fathom what Dan's wife was going through and I feel the same for Justin's wife. I just, ugh, it's so hard to grasp and deal with the fact that he won't be there anymore, for his family or at the track.
I'd just like to give a call to Tony Stewart for being such a great gentleman to provide his private plane and pilots to Justin's family so they could be with him in his final hours. Thank you Tony for being such a great person to do that without so much as a hesitation, and of course to the pilots for actually doing the flying.
Godspeed Justin, may you Rest in Peace.
I didn't like it when Dan died and people said he died doing what he loved because he died in a way that would have definitely been frightening and no driver would want to crash the way he did. Justin, on the other hand was just avoiding a crash and probably didn't see the nose coming and then... it was suddenly lights out...
It's just an empty feeling, knowing he's just gone and his family are left without him. This sort of thing makes me feel the need to curl up in a dark pillowed corner and not get up for a very long time. In 2011 I couldn't fathom what Dan's wife was going through and I feel the same for Justin's wife. I just, ugh, it's so hard to grasp and deal with the fact that he won't be there anymore, for his family or at the track.
I'd just like to give a call to Tony Stewart for being such a great gentleman to provide his private plane and pilots to Justin's family so they could be with him in his final hours. Thank you Tony for being such a great person to do that without so much as a hesitation, and of course to the pilots for actually doing the flying.
Godspeed Justin, may you Rest in Peace.
- 3,948
- Sturgis, MI
- GTP_ty00123
They say no news is good news, but not hearing anything for 24 hours didn't bode well for an improvement of his condition. I was afraid this was going to happen, but that didn't mean I wanted to see it. If there's a good side to be had here, and... I'm not trying to be morbid, but really the only way to say it is that it was quick. Unlike Bianchi's accident in which the outcome wasn't to be known for several months, we have an ending to the story, as it were. I just wish the book was longer, is all.
- 4,806
- Sweden
I haven't even seen the crash, and I have no interest to now either.
I started following Justin's career in 2001. I used to tune in to
Eurosport every Sunday a few hours before the F1 race to watch Justin, Mark Webber, Tomas Enge
and Sébastien Bourdais battle it out in Formula 3000 (as it was still called back then).
It was a good season and Justin came out on top against some very talented opposition;
I guess you could say he was that periods version of Daniel Ricciardo, always smiling
and always positive.
They said he would never make it to Formula 1 because of his height, they said his frame
wouldn't fit in your conventional F1 cockpit and that no team would be willing to re-design
theirs for him.
But he did make it. And I have always rooted for the underdog.
I probably have over a hundred old F1 magazines saved from that period in time and today's news
of Justin's passing caused me to go through them again. I found one nice edition from the 2003
preseason preview and I have added two photos of some of the articles with my phone below.
It was great to see Justin in F1, racing for one of my favorite teams; Minardi F1.
From my magazines I especially remember reporter Peter Windsor often praising Justin's starts.
His Minardi PS03 could obviously never compete with the other teams during the races since they
lacked a tremendous amount of horsepower, but the starts frequently level the playing field for a moment.
From looking over his 2003 statistics in F1 I find that after the first lap;
-in Australia he went from 20th to 12th
-in Malaysia he went from 19th to 8th!
-in Brazil from 20th to 15th
-in Spain from 18th to 9th
-in Austria from 18th to 15th
-in Canada from 18th to 13th
this was all done in an incredibly inferior Minardi Ford Cosworth.
I remember Justin got to F1, in part, due to him selling shares of 'himself' to the fans,
people could buy shares and help support his career to the top echelon. He didn't have many
sponsors but towards the end of 2003 he left Minardi and signed on for Jaguar.
And at Indianapolis in September he finished 8th to score his first Formula 1 point.
It would prove to be his first and last, for he never got to continue in F1 past 2003.
F1's loss, America's gain I say.
Unfortunately I didn't follow his career as much after he left Europe, but I always looked
over the results and standings to see how he got on.
Over the years he put up results that made everybody who followed him proud.
Seven wins in CART / Indycar, runner-up in the championship twice, 27 podium finishes!,
and perhaps his most impressive statistic; 711 laps in the lead.
I'll remember Justin's smile the most.
And how he defeated the odds, how he made it to the very top when people said he wouldn't
or couldn't do it. He proved them wrong.
thanks for the inspiration, Justin : (
I started following Justin's career in 2001. I used to tune in to
Eurosport every Sunday a few hours before the F1 race to watch Justin, Mark Webber, Tomas Enge
and Sébastien Bourdais battle it out in Formula 3000 (as it was still called back then).
It was a good season and Justin came out on top against some very talented opposition;
Position Driver Team Car Engine Tyres Points
1.Justin Wilson Nordic Lola T99/50 (Zytek)
71p
2.Mark Webber Super Nova Racing Limited Lola T99/50 (Zytek)
39p
3.Tomas Enge Coca-Cola Nordic Racing Lola T99/50 (Zytek)
39p
4.Sébastien Bourdais DAMS Lola T99/50 - Zytek
26p
I guess you could say he was that periods version of Daniel Ricciardo, always smiling
and always positive.
They said he would never make it to Formula 1 because of his height, they said his frame
wouldn't fit in your conventional F1 cockpit and that no team would be willing to re-design
theirs for him.
But he did make it. And I have always rooted for the underdog.
I probably have over a hundred old F1 magazines saved from that period in time and today's news
of Justin's passing caused me to go through them again. I found one nice edition from the 2003
preseason preview and I have added two photos of some of the articles with my phone below.
It was great to see Justin in F1, racing for one of my favorite teams; Minardi F1.
From my magazines I especially remember reporter Peter Windsor often praising Justin's starts.
His Minardi PS03 could obviously never compete with the other teams during the races since they
lacked a tremendous amount of horsepower, but the starts frequently level the playing field for a moment.
From looking over his 2003 statistics in F1 I find that after the first lap;
-in Australia he went from 20th to 12th
-in Malaysia he went from 19th to 8th!
-in Brazil from 20th to 15th
-in Spain from 18th to 9th
-in Austria from 18th to 15th
-in Canada from 18th to 13th
this was all done in an incredibly inferior Minardi Ford Cosworth.
I remember Justin got to F1, in part, due to him selling shares of 'himself' to the fans,
people could buy shares and help support his career to the top echelon. He didn't have many
sponsors but towards the end of 2003 he left Minardi and signed on for Jaguar.
And at Indianapolis in September he finished 8th to score his first Formula 1 point.
It would prove to be his first and last, for he never got to continue in F1 past 2003.
F1's loss, America's gain I say.
Unfortunately I didn't follow his career as much after he left Europe, but I always looked
over the results and standings to see how he got on.
Over the years he put up results that made everybody who followed him proud.
Seven wins in CART / Indycar, runner-up in the championship twice, 27 podium finishes!,
and perhaps his most impressive statistic; 711 laps in the lead.
I'll remember Justin's smile the most.
And how he defeated the odds, how he made it to the very top when people said he wouldn't
or couldn't do it. He proved them wrong.
thanks for the inspiration, Justin : (
Attachments
- 2,308
- United States
- monkeylima
RIP Justin Wilson.
- 569
- United Kingdom
Rest in peace mate . You will be missed .
Tired Tyres
Premium
- 12,593
- West Yorkshire
- Tired_Tyres
- Tired Tyres
Woke up this morning to hear this on the news. RIP Justin.
I remember his start in F1 with Minardi. Always qualifying at the back, of course, but somehow ending up in 10th place at the end of the first lap! He showed that much promise that, unfortunately, Jaguar picked him up. That was it for his F1 career right there.
I remember his start in F1 with Minardi. Always qualifying at the back, of course, but somehow ending up in 10th place at the end of the first lap! He showed that much promise that, unfortunately, Jaguar picked him up. That was it for his F1 career right there.
- 23,999
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
R.I.P. JustinOur local news paper, the terrible Sheffield Star, has this fitting tribute to Sheffield-born Justin on it's website this morning:
TheEnd35000vr
Premium
- 759
- London
- TheMysteriousEnd
- Mystend
Rest in Peace Justin. Another taken too soon.
- 9,554
- Vermont
- catamount39
A little something by Racer.com. ;_;7
http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoint...-talent-and-a-great-man?showall=&limitstart=1
http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoint...-talent-and-a-great-man?showall=&limitstart=1
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