LEXINGTON, Ohio - In a lot of ways, the result in today’s Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course spoke as a great testament to what Justin Wilson could have done had the incredibly popular Englishman still been here with the goal of ending one step higher on the podium than he did 12 months ago.
Sunday, July 31, would have been Wilson’s 38th birthday, and it also marked the near one-year-to-the-day anniversary of his final podium finish - when he came second to fellow Honda driver Graham Rahal last August 2.
Wilson’s final team, Andretti Autosport, graced the podium for the first time since Ryan Hunter-Reay came third in the second Detroit race in June, courtesy of Carlos Munoz in the No. 26 Honda.
Yet it was the team Wilson was inextricably linked with, Dale Coyne Racing, that had a greater impact on today’s race.
There was RC Enerson, a taller than normal rookie outperforming expectations on his debut weekend.
And then there was Conor Daly, the latest driver for Coyne using a typically brilliant Coyne strategy play to turn a last-place qualifying effort into 22 laps led and a sixth place finish.
Several members of the IndyCar community paid tribute to the gentle giant, frequently known as “Badass,” or as “J-Dub,” whose presence and absence was felt this weekend.
This isn’t an exhaustive list but gives a good number of tributes to the driver - and man - we all miss on a regular basis.
Happy birthday bro! I miss you everyday, but some days the pain is just a bit deeper #MissYouBadAss #NeverForgotten pic.twitter.com/xmgLXBtZVz
— Stefan Wilson (@stef_wilson) July 31, 2016
Happy birthday Justin. We miss you, but you'll always be with us. #BadassWilson #neverforgotten pic.twitter.com/smeGBb6Tot
— Dale Coyne Racing (@DaleCoyneRacing) July 31, 2016
We're lifting up some #BadAss birthday thoughts today to 2015 @Mid_Ohio podium finisher & our forever teammate. #JW pic.twitter.com/4aZzgGmRoA
— Andretti Autosport (@FollowAndretti) July 31, 2016
Thinking of our buddy JWill today on his bday (as I often do), he'd be getting ready to throw down this afternoon at Mid O for sure! #badass
— JR Hildebrand (@JRHildebrand) July 31, 2016
Happy birthday mate, we miss you. #badass pic.twitter.com/GRGIoGwiXp
— Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) August 1, 2016
Happy birthday to my boy forever @justin_wilson we all miss you so much everyday. #BadAss
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) July 31, 2016
The #IndyCarPR Dept honoured the occasion of our friend @justin_wilson's birthday with some @USWAGGEAR #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/0tZdFvJcih
— Pat Caporali 🇨🇦🏁 (@PCaporali) August 1, 2016
Thinking about @justin_wilson, would have been his birthday today #badasswilson
— Sunday Group (@Sundaygroup) July 31, 2016
We will never forget, Justin Wilson, ex @F1 driver, GPDA member and simply top racer! Today would have been his 38th birthday! #RIP
— Grand Prix Drivers (@GPDA_) July 31, 2016
Most popular shirts I saw in The Esses @Mid_Ohio: @GrahamRahal & @Justin_Wilson who would have been 38 today. Pretty special to see so many
— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) July 31, 2016
Today would have been @justin_wilson's 38th birthday.
— Peter Leung (@BaronVonClutch) July 31, 2016
Always in our hearts. 💕#BadassWilson pic.twitter.com/XrKWCr23Rh
Happy 38th birthday Justin Wilson #BadAssWilson #RIP. pic.twitter.com/EftL6v5grl
— Andrew (@Basso488) July 31, 2016
Happy Birthday @justin_wilson pic.twitter.com/6FaEjxpgaE
— andy blackmore (@andyblackmore) July 31, 2016
If @ConorDaly22 could pull this off @Mid_Ohio for @DaleCoyneRacing on Justin Wilson's Bday, that'd be super cool. #IndyCar #BadassWIlson
— Joey Barnes (@JoeyBarnes85) July 31, 2016
Happy Birthday #JustinWilson #Badass You will always be missed. pic.twitter.com/dsLO1zu7uJ
— Vickie Miller (@Viclovesracing) July 31, 2016