Justin Wilson was the only driver injured in the earlier six-car accident during Saturday night’s MAVTV 500 IZOD IndyCar Series finale at Auto Club Speedway.
Just past 2 a.m. ET, an update from INDYCAR medical director Michael Olinger was that Wilson has non-operable pelvic fractures and a small pulmonary contusion. He will be kept overnight for observation in a local hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
Wilson got loose in-between Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 111. Two cars – Oriol Servia and Josef Newgarden – collided while taking evasive action going high to avoid Wilson. Another car, Tristan Vautier, also tried the high line to avoid hitting Wilson but wound up spearing his car with the nose.
In 2011, Wilson had sustained a compression fracture to his T-5 vertebra. The back injury sidelined him for the remainder of that season.
Throughout the night, Wilson’s younger brother Stefan, who made his own IndyCar debut at Baltimore last month as Wilson’s teammate at Dale Coyne Racing, kept everyone updated on his older brother’s status.
JW awake alert talking, at hosp just getting X-ray. Thanks for message of support
— Stefan Wilson (@stef_wilson) October 20, 2013
JW update. Had catscan, all back looked okay on this scan. Small fracture to pelvis. Will have MRI next to check back further. 62 lat G’s!
— Stefan Wilson (@stef_wilson) October 20, 2013