Robert Wickens has injuries to lower extremities, arm, spine and lung contusion after vicious Pocono crash - MotorSportsTalk

UPDATE 1 (10:51 p.m. ET): Robert Wickens suffered numerous injuries in Sunday’s crash on Lap 8 of the ABC Supply 500 IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway.

Here’s the most recent statement from IndyCar on Wickens’ condition:

“ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018) — Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens is being treated for injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine following an incident in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. He also sustained a pulmonary contusion. He will undergo an MRI and probable surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest. Further updates on his condition will be provided when available.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

IndyCar rookie Robert Wickens has unspecified “orthopedic injuries” after being involved in a wicked crash on Lap 8 of Sunday’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway.

IndyCar’s Communications Department announced an update on Wickens’ condition around 7:15 p.m. ET, saying the Canadian driver was still being medically evaluated, but there is no additional information.

Wickens was involved in a wreck with Ryan Hunter-Reay as the two exited Turn 2. After making contact with Hunter-Reay’s Honda, Wickens’ Honda climbed the catchfence and spun several times in mid-air before coming down on the racetrack.

It took rescue workers about 12 minutes to free Wickens from the mangled damage. He was taken by ambulance first to the infield care center, but only moments later, was taken to a waiting medivac helicopter that took him to the Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, about 45 minutes away.

Hinchcliffe could be seen gingerly being helped out of his own race car and held both arms close to his body, indicating perhaps injuries to his wrists.

Hinchcliffe, who eventually went to the Allentown hospital to be with Wickens, his teammate and best friend, sent a message to NBCSN announcers that while his wrists appeared to be okay during an examination, his hands were cut by flying debris from the incident. Hinchcliffe is expected to be okay.

We’ll have more updates for you as they become available.

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The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Motor City for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix but with start times in a new location for 2023.

After a 30-year run on Belle Isle, the Detroit GP has moved a few miles south to the streets of downtown on a new nine-turn, 1.645-mile circuit that runs along the Detroit River.

It’s the first time single-seater open-cockpit cars have raced on the streets of Detroit since a CART event on a 2.5-mile downtown layout from 1989-91. Formula One also raced in Detroit from 1982-88.

The reimagined Detroit Grand Prix also will play host to nightly concerts and bring in venders from across the region. Roger Penske predicts the new downtown locale will be bigger for Detroit than when the city played host to the 2006 Super Bowl.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend (all times are ET):

CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX INDYCAR START TIMES

TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying.

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after Sunday’s race ends.

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 3:23 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 3:30 p.m. ET

PRACTICE: Friday, 3 p.m. (Peacock Premium); Saturday, 9:05 a.m. (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock Premium)

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session I l Session II l Warmup l Combined

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 1:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

STARTING LINEUP: Alex Palou captured the first street course pole of his IndyCar career; click here for where everyone will begin Sunday’s race

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 100 laps (170 miles) on a nine-turn, 1.645-mile temporary street course in downtown Detroit.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate. Rookie drivers are allowed one extra primary set for the first practice.

PUSH TO PASS: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total, 15 seconds per). The push-to-pass is not available on the initial start or any restart unless it occurs in the final two laps or three minutes of a timed race. The feature increases the power of the engine by approximately 60 horsepower.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 0% chance of rain.

ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 27 drivers racing Sunday at Detroit

INDY NXT RACES: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 12:50 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium)

INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 19 drivers racing at Detroit