IndyCar Series

[jjn9128]

I mean that's worst case - I think they'll have issues determining the extent of any nerve damage because of all his other injuries. Ant Davidson broke his back in a similar place (T11 & T12) at Le Mans and was back racing within 3 months. Bourdais was racing before the end of the season after breaking his pelvis at Indy. Racing drivers seem incredibly resilient to what would be worse injuries for normal people.

Paraplegia isn't a death sentence - a significant life changing event certainly - but not a death sentence. Depending where the break is he could pull a Zanardi and compete in disability sports, assuming his diaphragm and torso function is unaffected.

[Just_a_fan]

Paraplegia isn't a death sentence - a significant life changing event certainly - but not a death sentence. Depending where the break is he could pull a Zanardi and compete in disability sports, assuming his diaphragm and torso function is unaffected.

I didn't mean to suggest that it is a death sentence. Many people continue to have very fulfilled lives. But some take being severely disabled very badly and it breaks them. I would guess the inherent competitive and arrogant nature of a racing driver tends to make them fight and "prove their worth" (horrible phrase but can't think of a better one at the moment). They are nature's go-getters. Me? I think I'd find such an injury very difficult to live with.

[strad]

I think the thing we can agree on is that it was very violent with some hellish G and centrifugal forces,and that we hope for the very best for him and his family.

[roon]

If that is the prognosis, how will this affect the sport moving forward? Hunter-Ray's situation calls for a halo type device. But Wicken's situation calls for changes to the tracks (barriers) or the cars (nose height, wheel covers, go kart type side bumpers). Or not, and these results are accepted as part of the risk of the event.

With the ability to make strong, lightweight bodywork available today, is there any place for open wheel racing in the world anymore? The weight of fenders can be offset by redesigning other parts of the car, and of course the aero performance can only improve with such devices. To me it seems like a choice between nostalgia and improving performance & safety.

[jjn9128]

It's difficult to say what they can do about the ovals. I don't think cars getting up into the catch fencing is limited to open wheelers. I'm not sure replacing the catch fencing with plexiglass is the solution - I think it works well on point loads, but a race car travelling at 220+ mi/hr is another matter. I've often thought a parabolic outer wall might help contain debris, but when the car goes over the wall it's generally because it's been launched, so I doubt that's a useful solution. Certainly short term it sound like they'll be doubling the height of the tec-pro barriers.

The bump pods and fenders on the original DW12 were supposed to stop cars locking wheels or riding over one another, but often they became debris on track from trivial contact - make the wheels fully enclosed and the open-wheel brigade pipe up. Low noses vs high noses is a tricky balance. Too high and the nose can easily go over the cockpit sides or the car behind rides over the wheels and launches, too low and the car behind can submarine. I'd have thought the nose tip just below axle height is the best compromise... ~290mm which is 70mm higher than current F1 (probably around the same vs Indycar.)

[jjn9128]

I've been waiting on updates on Wickens, it seems the spinal chord injury is still indeterminate, looking at the list of injuries he sustained that's not a surprise. Back AND neck fractures isn't a shock from the images of the crash. Tib and fib in both legs is really bad if it was caused by a loose fire extinguisher, probably the reason the spinal chord can't be properly assessed... in fact any single one of these injuries would be horrific on their own.

Among the injuries Wickens sustained were:
- Thoracic spinal fracture
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck fracture
- Tibia and fibula fractures to both legs
- Fractures in both hands
- Fractured right forearm
- Fractured elbow
- Four fractured ribs
- Pulmonary contusion

https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news ... 20/?nrt=86

[roon]

That's really bad. I'm sure there are many variables, but what are the odds of recovering from a spinal cord injury?

[JordanMugen]

If that is the prognosis, how will this affect the sport moving forward? Hunter-Ray's situation calls for a halo type device. But Wicken's situation calls for changes to the tracks (barriers) or the cars (nose height, wheel covers, go kart type side bumpers). Or not, and these results are accepted as part of the risk of the event.

Or just minimise the number of meetings on high-speed superways as they are inherently dangerous.

Team owner Dale Coyne has essentially been calling for Indy to be the only superspeedway on the calender...

"People understand about laying it all on the line for the Indy 500 and everything that comes with it.

"But racing in front of 12,000 people at 220mph at some of these other tracks, it's fair to ask what we're doing, why we're doing it."

- Dale Coyne https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/ ... 2019-drive

[Morteza]

https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5231884288

[jjn9128]

https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5231884288

This does not necessarily mean he will never regain function of his legs - T4 means he is currently paralysed from the chest down. The fact the chord wasn't severed means there is hope for him that the nerves will recover, hopefully that's not a false hope, but nerves recover quite slowly in my experience.
https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5609447424

He's also able to smile and have fun...
https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5609558022

[Morteza]

https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5231884288

This does not necessarily mean he will never regain function of his legs - T4 means he is currently paralysed from the chest down. The fact the chord wasn't severed means there is hope for him that the nerves will recover, hopefully that's not a false hope, but nerves recover quite slowly in my experience.
https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5609447424

He's also able to smile and have fun...
https://twitter.com/robertwickens/statu ... 5609558022

I'm glad he is in great spirits. I really hope for a recovery as there are already positive signs. It just is unbearable to me what a horrific accident he had; he went from rookie of the year to basically being in doubt of if he will ever walk again

[subcritical71]

https://twitter.com/COTA/status/1057014403462250499

And an article; https://www.indycar.com/News/2018/10/10 ... ssi-Kanaan

[Morteza]

https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/1057256324898189313

[jjn9128]

https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/1057256324898189313

Good luck to him - taking Wicken's place within that team won't be easy I think. Rosenqvist confirmed for Ganassi too means Sweden is representing in Indycar.

An unnamed driver was also testing for a possible 3rd Carlin entry at COTA this week (not sure if they were wearing an unbranded helmet like the Mercedes Pirelli test).... wonder who that could be. Alonso maybe?

[WaikeCU]

https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/1057256324898189313

Good luck to him - taking Wicken's place within that team won't be easy I think. Rosenqvist confirmed for Ganassi too means Sweden is representing in Indycar.

An unnamed driver was also testing for a possible 3rd Carlin entry at COTA this week (not sure if they were wearing an unbranded helmet like the Mercedes Pirelli test).... wonder who that could be. Alonso maybe?

His career might lift up in the States. Who knows he might even win Indy 500 before Alonso does.