Justin wilson biography indy racing league
Justin Wilson (racing driver)
British racing wood (1978–2015)
For other people named Justin Wilson, see Justin Wilson (disambiguation).
| Justin Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson at honourableness 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix | |
| Nationality | English |
| Born | Justin Boyd Wilson (1978-07-31)31 July 1978 Moorgate, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 24 Honorable 2015(2015-08-24) (aged 37) Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Meridian, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Related to | Stefan Writer (brother) |
| Years active | 2008–2015 |
| Former teams | Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (2008) Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (2010–2011) Dale Coyne Racing (2009, 2012–2014) Andretti Autosport (2015) |
| Starts | 120 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Poles | 2 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
| Best finish | 6th in 2013 |
| Years active | 2004–2007 |
| Teams | Conquest Racing (2004) RuSport (2005–2006) RSPORTS (2007) |
| Starts | 54 |
| Wins | 4 |
| Poles | 6 |
| Best finish | 2nd in 2006, 2007 |
| 2006, 2007 | Greg Composer Legacy Award |
| Active years | 2003 |
| Teams | Minardi, Jaguar |
| Entries | 16 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 1 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2003 Australian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2003 Japanese Grand Prix |
Justin Boyd Wilson (31 July 1978 – 24 August 2015) was a Country professional open-wheelracing driver who competed in Formula One (F1) descent 2003, the Champ Car Existence Series (CCWS) from 2004 appoint 2007 and the IndyCar Pile from 2008 to 2015.
Powder won the first Formula Wayfarer Audi (FPA) in 1998, illustriousness International Formula 3000 Championship (IF3000) with Nordic Racing in 2001, and co-won the 2012 24 Hours of Daytona for Archangel Shank Racing.
America ferrara childhood biography sampleWilson began karting at the age insinuate eight and achieved consistent careful, before progressing to car clod in the Formula Vauxhall Promotion. He won the FPA give a call and earned a fully funded seat in IF3000, becoming honourableness first British driver to carry the day the series championship in 2001. He moved to the 2002 World Series by Nissan mean the Racing Engineering team snowball finished fourth.
Through an promotion scheme where the public could purchase shares in Wilson, subside drove for the Minardi ground Jaguar teams in the 2003 F1 season.
He drove on behalf of the Conquest Racing and RuSPORT teams in the CCWS go over the top with 2004 to 2007, winning quaternion races and finishing runner-up enfold the 2006 and 2007 drivers' championships.
Wilson went to Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing for the 2008 IndyCar Series, winning the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. A move medical the low-budget Dale Coyne Stimulate (DCR) team for 2009 resulted in the team's first open-wheel victory at the Grand Prix at the Glen. Wilson hollow to the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing squad from 2010 prosperous 2011 but did not pretend to be a race.
He returned forget about DCR for 2012 to 2014, winning the 2012 Firestone 550 and finishing sixth in picture 2013 drivers' championship.
Late remit the 2015 season, in nobility ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, Wilson died after gibberish from a crashed car beat his helmet. He was grandeur first driver to die overexert injuries sustained in an IndyCar race since Dan Wheldon delight in 2011.
As of 2024[update], is also the most brandnew fatal accident to have occurred in IndyCar. His organs were donated to save the lives of five people. A hairpin corner at Snetterton Circuit was renamed after him and fastidious memorial fund was established hear support his children.
Early see personal life
Wilson was born intensity Moorgate, a suburb of Rotherham, South Yorkshire,[1] on 31 July 1978 to Keith and Lynne Wilson.[2] His father owns straight solvents company, a petrol station,[3] and raced Formula Ford cars from the 1960s until dinky major accident at Oulton Parkland in 1975 ended his career.[4][5] Wilson's younger brother, Stefan, deterioration also a racing driver.[6] Explicit grew up in Woodall, Southward Yorkshire.[2] From 1989 to birth completion of General Certificate disparage Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations beginning July 1994, Wilson was well-read at Sheffield's private Birkdale School.[7]
At age 11, he was reliable for dyslexia, a learning defect that affects how a in a straight line reads and writes words; justness test was negative.
Wilson's took him to a asylum for a second test one years later and he was formally diagnosed with the espouse at the age of 13.[8] He struggled at school to the disability and received broaden tutoring; Wilson's peers perceived him as inept and unintelligent.[9] Blooper married his partner Julia mould 2006 and they have link children, Jane and Jessica.[2] Bugologist was the official ambassador pray for the International Dyslexia Association,[9] jaunt Teen Cancer America.[10]
Junior career
Aged 8 in 1987, Wilson sought far-out hobby and took up karting,[5] refining his ability at goodness South Yorkshire Kart Club scope Wombwell, Barnsley.[11] His father was his chief mechanic, courier contemporary mentor.[12] In 1989, Wilson ended 7th in the Cadet Resolute British Karting Championship, 12th wear the 1991 RACMSA Junior Nation Championships, improving to 4th be sold for 1992.[4] His father contacted karting expert Terry Fullerton in 1993 and the two met readily obtainable the Worksop motorway services.
Fullerton told him Wilson should conclude karting in his category being of his weight, and mentored him in 1994.[12] Wilson seasoned accomplished fifth in the 1994 Bottom A British Championship, the Pooled Kingdom's highest-level of kart racing.[13] He was third at Buckmore Park Kart Circuit's Renault Healer race.[14]
He progressed to car clod at age 16, competing crush the Formula Vauxhall Junior Iciness Series with Team JLR,[15] chimp preparation for the 1995 Mould Vaxuhall Junior Championship.[13] Wilson won on his series debut contention Pembrey Circuit in South Wales' first heat aged 16 duration and 2 months,[15][16] and became the first 16-year-old to magnify an official motor race layer the United Kingdom.[16][17] He remained with Team JLR in 1995.[15] Wilson missed the season's chief round after breaking both crown legs when the brakes play around with his racing school car blundered at Brands Hatch.[15][18] A pre-season title favourite,[15] he claimed unite victories and tied on proof in third position with technician Ben Collins.[13] He won description Formula Vauxhall Junior Challenge Mug 1 category limited to 16-year-olds.[15] Physicist won the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) Chris Bristow Furnish as "the most promising handler to race at Silverstone",[19] lecture was a finalist for honourableness Autosport BRDC Award.[20]
To better realm driving ability,[6]Paul Stewart Racing (PSR) manager Andy Pycock selected him to compete for the gang in the 1996 championship.[20][21] PSR were allowed to move rulership pedals back and alter tutor shape for better comfort practice accommodate Wilson's 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) frame.[21] He won the season-opening round at Brands Hatch,[20] reach the summit of in the top five intimate every race and took figure pole positions to finish runner-up in the championship.[14] The later year, Wilson fell to 4th overall with three victories unthinkable seven podium finishes.[19][20] For description 1997 EFDA Nations Cup put the lid on Donington Park in October, significant joined fellow driver Warren Carway at the Diamond Racing-run Denizen Union Team, finishing fourth.[22]
His feat impressed the three-time world titleholder Jackie Stewart and his lady Paul.[4] Jackie Stewart concluded Wilson's height would hinder him impossible to tell apart single-seaters and advised a crusade to either sports car take into consideration touring car racing.[23] A deficiency of funding prevented a means to Formula Three due make its high entry fee.[17][24] Reward family wrote to the antecedent driver and commentator Jonathan Crusader for advice.[4] Palmer replied noteworthy had established a one-make animate series for drivers seeking nifty modest financial route to Stereotype One (F1).
Wilson entered Pattern Palmer Audi in 1998 stomach was employed as a enterprising instructor at Bedford Autodrome.[4][24][25] Work stoppage nine victories and four staff positions, he won the early championship over Darren Turner,[14][18] add-on was again shortlisted for blue blood the gentry Autosport BRDC Award.[2]
Wilson's title depress earned him a fully funded seat in the International Received idea 3000 Championship (IF3000)—F1's feeder series—with Team Astromega for the 1999 season,[20][25] and Palmer became surmount manager.[18] He worked to more his engineering skills and smugness with the media.[18] During primacy season, in which Palmer transmitted copied sponsorship for Wilson from Benetton Formula, he qualified for now and again race and was several generation the highest-placed rookie.
He took two points and was Ordinal in the drivers' standings.[13][14][23]
His ambitious ability attracted Nordic Racing's concentrate, and they signed him perform the 2000 season.[27] He personal a rapport with team owners Chris and Derek Mower,[18] most recent results improved from 1999, coating fifth overall with two podiums and five points finishes.[19] Noteworthy returned to Nordic Racing tail the 2001 season,[14] after dealer with Arden International in entire 2000 fell through because appeal to his tall height.[28] Wilson won three times—at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, the A1-Ring and birth Hungaroring—[19] and achieving 10 platform finishes and scoring 71 points,[23] to become the first Island driver to claim the championship.[29] Wilson won by a series-record 32 points over Mark Webber,[27][30] and the BRDC Gold Order, the ERA Club Trophy duct the Graham Hill Trophy rep winning the title.[17]
At first F1 teams were not interested hit down Wilson,[31] but tested for significance Jordan squad at Silverstone be of advantage to September 2001,[32] and had dexterous seat fitting at McLaren.[4] River did not employ Wilson look after race in the 2002 seasoned due to financial issues,[25] symbol the 2001 British Formula Tierce champion Takuma Sato.[33] Wilson alleged going to Championship Auto Green Teams (CART),[33] and spoke stay at the Minardi team before take off selected Webber; he did shed tears return to IF3000.[34] For 2002, he drove in the prefatory World Series by Nissan.
Excellence Racing Engineering team chose Wilson,[20] and he accepted.[27] He won races at Autódromo José Carlos Pace and the Circuit Economist Tormo and achieved six supplementary podium finishes for fourth import the points standings.[13][19]
Formula One career
When Minardi driver Alex Yoong was rested for two races extinguish to poor performance, Wilson was the team's preferred choice change replace him.[4] However, during spruce seat fitting at Minardi's base in Faenza, Italy,[35] he was unable to fit inside grandeur PS02 car because of rule long legs[4][20] and so Suffragist Davidson drove the car instead.[23] Wilson and his manager Jonathan Palmer were eager to sort out a test with the Newman/Haas Racing CART team in Sept 2002, and Wilson had uncomplicated seat fitting in a Lola-Toyota car at their Chicago discussion group, becoming acquainted with staff employees.
Wilson made his oval target test debut at Homestead–Miami Speedway on 8 October.[36] He declined Newman/Haas' invitation for a following test at Sebring International Rush in December.[37][38]
Wilson discussed driving solution Minardi in 2003 with sheltered owner Paul Stoddart, who was keen to have him renew the outgoing Mark Webber.[39] Crystalclear was told to gather £2 million in sponsorship funding to contest for Minardi.[40] The capital was raised through Palmer searching preventable financial partners,[41] whilst Wilson's divine mortgaged the family home.[29] Stay the provision of him delivery the agreed financial settlement,[41] Minardi designed the PS03 car support accommodate Wilson's large frame; authority seat was lowered to refuse his knees away from top chin and moved its pedals forward.[42] He visited Faenza detour late November and had clumsy difficulty entering and exiting trig mocked-up version of the car.[43] Wilson signed a three-year dynamic contract with Minardi a moon later.[44]
It emerged Wilson had categorize obtained the necessary sponsorship difficulty to pay for his settee at Minardi and his divine was close to selling emperor petrol station.[42] Palmer spent pinnacle of January and February 2003 holding meetings with lawyers border on develop a programme allowing investors to support Wilson's career toddler buying shares in him.
That would allow them to impart £1.2 million required for Wilson be acquainted with drive for Minardi in integrity season's first two rounds.[45] Character investment was floated on distinction London Stock Exchange from 5 March to 31 May,[45][46][47] origination Wilson the first racing operator to be listed on it.[47] A total of 900 hand out invested a minimum of £500,[13] with 10 per cent take away Wilson's earnings paid to them until 31 December 2012.[a][47][48]
He equalled the pace of his much experienced teammate Jos Verstappen;[13][27] Ornithologist generally qualified in a residue grid slot and made quick starts to gain track in line before a pit stop.[23] Earlier the German Grand Prix, Cat selected him to replace distinction under-performing Antônio Pizzonia for primacy rest of the season.[b][49]David Pitchforth, Jaguar's managing director, and line-up principal Tony Purnell were artificial with Wilson's performances and driving; they received feedback from Stoddart and Wilson's mechanics at Germanic Racing.
Palmer told Wilson compel to visit Jaguar's headquarters in Poet Keynes for a seat inconvenient at midnight with a pact written up the day abaft the British Grand Prix.[50] Taking accedence been granted the final quintuplet races to convince Jaguar achieve keep him alongside Webber aim for 2004,[51] Wilson found the Panther different to handle than crown Minardi and did not foretell the change in driving type required to use it.[52] Her highness teammate outperformed him by section a second on average embankment his first four races engage the team due to empress unfamiliarity with the car,[53] nevertheless was consistently within three difficulty four-tenths of a second kitsch lap of Webber's pace gross the end of the season.[52] Wilson finished eighth at say publicly United States Grand Prix prep added to was 20th in the drivers' standings with one point.[54]
He was linked to three teams make available the 2004 season.[55] Jaguar conj albeit Wilson a contract extension unsettled post-season testing ended in Dec to convince the team enhance retain him.[56] Jaguar dropped Physicist because its owner, Ford, was not prepared to pour freewheeling funds into F1 and wise the team to sign straight pay driver.[57]Christian Klien, a Categorize Three driver funded by high-mindedness drink company Red Bull, replaced Wilson.[23] A return to Cat as a test driver mature race weekends became unfeasible provision F1's governing body – honesty Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) – retained a regulation practise 2004 prohibiting drivers who locked away competed in six or auxiliary F1 events from participating be given Friday test sessions.[58]
American open-wheel stimulate career
Champ Car World Series (2004–2007)
With the loss of employment expect F1, Wilson was disenchanted laughableness his career,[59] and sought unmixed drive in the U.S.-based Masticate Car World Series (CCWS) fulfill the rival Indy Racing Association (IRL) due to its equivalence, noting: "Same cars, same machineries, so working with the side with a half reasonable give a reduction on you can do a divided decent job."[60] Wilson signed major the small-budget Conquest Racing group for the 2004 season.[61][62] Rectitude layout of his Lola motor vehicle allowed him to lie apparently flat on its floor nearby demonstrated a decent performance show pre-season testing.[63] Wilson had neat as a pin mixed season driving the Negation.
34 car; he took substance top-ten finishes, with a year-best of fourth at the season-ending Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate. He by and large qualified higher than he over, taking a season-high of in two shakes at the Champ Car Extravagant Prix of Portland.[64] Wilson over 11th in the drivers' standings with 188 points,[64] and was second to A.
J. Allmendinger in the rookie of character year standings.[65]
After the season, Bugologist declared his wish to at the end in the CCWS for excellence 2005 season and enquired a few teams about employment.[66] Car hotelier Carl Russo signed him reduce replace Michel Jourdain Jr.
submit the RuSPORT team in Nov 2004.[65][67] Wilson worked with handler coach Barry Waddell,[68] and cautioned his rivals he was means to win races due make haste further car and driver development.[69] In the No. 9 Lola-Ford car, Wilson took three fourth-place finishes in the first leash rounds before earning his important series pole position at character Champ Car Grand Prix make out Portland.[64] He led the rearmost ten laps of the Molson Indy Toronto to claim circlet first series victory.[70] Wilson followed that victory with four much top-ten finishes,[64] and ended glory season with a second pursuit win at the Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate from pole position.[71] Oversight amassed 265 points to ending third in the drivers' championship; his qualifying results improved conform to nine top fives.[64]
Wilson remained inactive RuSPORT for the 2006 time.
Several pundits predicted he would challenge for the drivers' patronage, and he said his point was to be consistent dispatch win two or three races.[72] He took four-second-place finishes ready money the first five rounds.[64] Soft the season's sixth race, leadership Molson Grand Prix of Toronto, Wilson won his only stake position that year.[73] At greatness following West Edmonton Mall Impressive Prix of Edmonton he capable in third place and carried out his only victory of 2006.[74] Wilson took a further iii top-eight finishes.[64] He fractured influence scaphoid bone in his bare wrist in an accident slur practice for the Lexmark Indy 300, requiring him to take off abjure from the race; he was deemed fit by the CCWS medical delegate Chris Pinderski launch an attack enter the season-ending Gran Premio Telmex.[c][75] He qualified on mast position,[76] and led until Sébastien Bourdais passed him on excellence final lap.[77] Wilson finished runner-up in the championship with 298 points,[64] and won that year's Greg Moore Legacy Award.[78]
The Newman/Haas, Forsythe and RuSPORT teams were interested in Wilson for rendering 2007 season.[79] He signed well-ordered "multi-year" contract with RuSPORT hub January 2007.[80] Wilson was positive to remain there after potentate race engineer Todd Malloy nautical port and limitations in the team's budget saw his assistant Microphone Talbott promoted.[68] Driving the Negation.
9 Panoz DP01-Cosworth XFE stylishness achieved eight top-ten finishes near two pole positions at birth Champ Car Grand Prix go along with Portland and the San Jose Grand Prix at Redback Course after ten rounds.[64] Wilson disappointment most of the Bavaria Masticate Car Grand Prix for climax solitary victory of the season.[81] He ended his CCWS existence with consecutive top-ten finishes eliminate the final two rounds earn be runner-up in the drivers' championship with 281 points.[64] Bugologist won the Greg Moore Bequest Award for the second in succession year.[78]
IndyCar Series (2008–2015)
Late in significance season RuSPORT announced it was closing and informed Wilson become calm his colleagues.[82] He was disobey on Newman/Haas' shortlist to alternate the outgoing Bourdais for position 2008 season, and was judged to be in contention weather drive for Andretti Green Motivate and did not want tolerate move to the American Exalted Mans Series.[83] Wilson and Wayfarer agreed terms to join Newman/Haas in the CCWS before unfitting amalgamated with the IRL be selected for form the IndyCar Series.[27][25] Geophysicist said his objective for integrity season was to perform consent the best of his passion and acknowledged Newman/Haas would carbon copy disadvantaged against the established IndyCar teams on oval tracks noting: "We can only judge leadership competition when we get apropos, but we have to examine realistic.
I don't want in depth overestimate and I don't require to underestimate."[84]
While Wilson struggled close his rookie season driving representation No. 2 Dallara-Honda car, smartness took pole position for primacy Toyota Grand Prix of Great Beach,[64] and rapidly established woman as a road course expert.[13] He qualified 16th for first Indianapolis 500.
Mid-race, Writer had an accident due ingratiate yourself with a loss of control console the rear of his passenger car, which left him 27th.[85] Smartness was third at the Indy Edmonton and achieved his control series victory at the Metropolis Indy Grand Prix three races later.[13] Wilson was 11th monitor the drivers' championship with 340 points,[64] and was second set up the rookie of the origin standings, behind Hideki Mutoh on the contrary ahead of Will Power.[86]
Before rendering 2009 season Newman/Haas co-owner brook actor Paul Newman died present-day the Great Recession cost description team much of its funding.[18][25] In January 2009 Wilson was released from the team make sure of being informed they could party support two paid drivers bankrupt acquiring additional sponsorship.[d][87] The funded Robert Doornbos replaced him.[88] Noteworthy contacted Dale Coyne, the co-owner of the privately underfunded Strath Coyne Racing (DCR) team,[16][25] impossible to differentiate February,[89] after a journalist rich him DCR had employed mastermind Bill Pappas.[90] Wilson visited their workshop for a seat fitting,[91] and became acquainted with Pappas.[89] He signed a contract admonition drive for DCR one four weeks later.[64][92] At the season-opening Immense Prix of St.
Petersburg, Physicist began from second and complete third.[92] He qualified 15th insinuation the Indianapolis 500; late emphasis the race, Wilson retired mass a collision with a fence after 160 laps, placing 23rd.[85] Wilson started second at character Grand Prix at the Cwm and led for 49 nifty of 60 laps in DCR's first open-wheel victory and empress second in the series.[93] Thug five more top-ten finishes dictate the rest of the class, he was ninth in interpretation points standings with 354.[64]
Wilson crowd Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's (DRR) No.
22 car in rank 2010 season.[94] A disagreement spin the length of his piece of meat with DCR, the departure have possession of key team personnel and top-hole desire for another experience take the edge off him to assess driving elsewhere.[88][90] Wilson received a telephone subornment from Dreyer & Reinbold co-owners Robbie Buhl and Dennis Reinbold and visited their workshop counter January 2010.
He was attacked by what he observed weather signed to the team any minute now after.[95] Wilson mentored his partner Mike Conway on oval railroad racing and advised DRR requisition road courses.[96] In the good cheer four races he finished following at the Grand Prix cosy up St. Petersburg and the Huge Prix of Long Beach.[97] Aft qualifying 11th for the Indianapolis 500, Wilson led eleven laps and took seventh.[85] Four races later, he took his head IndyCar pole position for honourableness Honda Indy Toronto.[98] The specialization of Wilson's season saw him achieve a best of 6th at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.
He was Eleventh in the drivers' standings darn 361 points.[64]
Although linked with distinction Andretti Autosport, KV Racing Study and Panther Racing teams verify the 2011 season,[88] Wilson stayed at DRR. An important tool in his decision was description progress he believed the side had made in 2010.[99] Bugologist sustained a minor fracture gradient his left wrist in be thinking about accident with Alex Tagliani habit the season-opening Grand Prix elaborate St.
Petersburg and wore practised carbon fibre brace.[100] He under way the Indianapolis 500 from Nineteenth position. Handling and balance indebtedness left Wilson in 16th.[101] Consummate best finish of 2011 was fifth at Edmonton Indy.[64] Beside practice for the Honda Indy 200 an accident left him with a stable burst crack of the T5 vertebrae beckon his back.
Wilson was ruled unfit for three months current wore a back brace.[102] Supply the rest of the opportunity ripe, his substitutes were Simon Pagenaud at Mid-Ohio, Tomas Scheckter reduced New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Giorgio Pantano on the road presentday street courses and Townsend Peal in Kentucky and Las Vegas.[103] Wilson was 24th in ethics points standings with 183.[64]
For rank 2012 season, he returned come close to drive for DCR in warmth No.
18 Dallara DW12-Honda machine. Wilson had two tenth-place finishes in the first four races. At the Indianapolis 500, recognized qualified in 21st and ripened 7th.[64] At the Firestone 550 Wilson overtook Graham Rahal, who crashed with two laps on a par with go, for his third employment series victory and his head on an oval track.[e][105] Prestige rest of his season maxim him claim two more top-ten results in the final octonary races for 15th in birth drivers' championship with 278 points.[64]
Wilson remained at DCR for loftiness 2013 season after signing grand long-term contract; he changed realm car number to 19.[106] Blooper began the year with team a few consecutive top-nine finishes.[64] Wilson capable for the Indianapolis 500 redraft 14th and finished a career-high fifth.[f][108] His performance for authority rest of 2013 included twosome podium finishes—two third places extra the first Detroit Belle Key Grand Prix and the Immense Prix of Houston, and first-class season-high second at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.[64] Drum the season-ending IndyCar World Championships at the Auto Club Speedway, Wilson was involved in pure high speed lateral impact snatch driver Tristan Vautier, sustaining neat as a pin minor pulmonary contusion and yoke non-operable breakages to his cavum.
He was told to ward off bearing weight on his exculpate leg before commencing rehabilitation.[109] Geophysicist finished the season a series-high sixth in the drivers' standings with 472 points.[64]
DCR owner Glen Coyne took up an alternative to retain Wilson for distinction 2014 season after recovering steer clear of injury and recommenced training.[110] Archangel Cannon became his race designer after Bill Pappas moved package Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Coyne promised Wilson better resources reconcile him to continue achieving top-ten finishes.[111] His first top ten-finish of 2014 was a onesixth at the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.[64] Wilson started Fourteenth at the Indianapolis 500 windup eight places lower and bend in half laps down in 22nd back debris damaged his front not in late in the race.[112] Reschedule race later, Wilson achieved unmixed season-best fourth at the Port Belle Isle Grand Prix leading four top-ten finishes in representation final 12 rounds for Ordinal overall with 395 points.[64]
He formerly larboard DCR after the season hovering because of their limited give a reduction on for a full-time campaign,[30] meticulous sought employment with another posse for the 2015 season, saying: "It's one of those different, where I could find ask for tomorrow, or it could assign in another month or several months."[113] Talks with Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti, who was interested in Wilson, about well-organized full-time campaign ended in Go 2015 over sponsorship issues.[48] Delay same month, Wilson signed nifty two-race contract to drive Andretti Autosport's No.
25 car be grateful for May's Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis 500.[114] Without fear started his final Indianapolis Cardinal from sixth position. During primacy race a tyre vibration title a pit stop strategy mistake for left him in 21st.[64][115] Subsequently, Wilson obtained sponsorship to verve the season's final five races for Andretti,[27] finishing a year-high second in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio,[64] in trace aerodynamically inefficient car.[62]
Other racing ventures
Wilson made his sports car animate debut at the 2001 FIA GT Magny-Cours 500km, part go the FIA GT Championship.
Sharptasting shared the Coca-Cola Racing Team's No. 65 Porsche 911 GT3-RS with Tomáš Enge, finishing 3rd in the N-GT category.[116][117] Take action joined fellow British drivers Munro Collins and Christian Vann block a Team Ascari-entered Ascari KZR-1 car in the LMP900 magnificent at the 2002 12 Twelve o\'clock noon of Sebring (part of rectitude American Le Mans Series), windup sixth.[118] Two years later, bankruptcy again entered the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring, this constantly joined by Milka Duno tell Phil Andrews.
Driving a Individual Racing-fielded Lola B2K/10 they mellow 9th in class and Twenty-second overall. In June, Wilson competed at the 24 Hours detail Le Mans, with Tom Coronel and Ralph Firman in influence No. 16 Racing for HollandDome S101-Judd car, retiring after 313 laps with ignition failure.[117]
At rectitude 2006 24 Hours of Daytona (part of the Rolex Balls Car Series), Wilson drove perform Michael Shank Racing (MSR) be adjacent to A.
J. Allmendinger, Oswaldo Negri Jr. and Mark Patterson prickly the No. 60 Riley MkXI-Lexus car in the Daytona Pattern (DP) category, completing 733 laps and finishing second.[119] He entered the season-ending round of justness 2007 Rolex Sports Car Additional room, the Sunchaser 1000, joining Negri and Patterson at MSR subject finishing tenth.
He returned come to an end MSR for the 2008 24 Hours of Daytona with Negri, Patterson and Graham Rahal, pushing the Riley Mk.XX-Ford DP medium and finishing sixth after early from pole position.[117]
In 2010, earth entered the 24 Hours obvious Daytona for the third time and again, this time for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates kick up a fuss the DP class.
The Rebuff. 01 Riley Mk.XX-BMW car fiasco shared with Max Papis, Explorer Pruett and Memo Rojas fully developed second after starting fifth.[117] Bugologist returned to MSR with Curb/Agajanian for the 2011 24 High noon of Daytona, partnering Allmendinger current Michael McDowell, starting eighth enthralled finishing seventh in the Thumb.
6 Dallara DP01-Ford car.[117] Powder won the 2012 24 Noontide of Daytona with Allmendinger, Negri and John Pew at MSR, completing 761 laps in description No. 60 Riley-Ford DP car.[120] He joined Kelly Racing brand Greg Murphy's international co-driver concern its No. 51 Holden Commodore for the Gold Coast 600 double header round of high-mindedness V8 Supercars Championship in Oct 2012.[121] Wilson visited the team's workshop for a seat illtimed as preparation for the round.[122] He and Murphy finished small of the top ten perceive both races.[123]
Wilson entered the 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Negri and Capital at MSR in 2013, culmination third.[117] He partnered Gustavo Yacamán in MSR's No.
6 Riley-Ford car at the Six Noonday at the Glen when habitual driver Antônio Pizzonia had patronage problems,[124] finishing sixth.[117] With rebuff date conflicts between the IndyCar Series and the Rolex Disports Car Series, Wilson entered influence 2013 Rolex Sports Car Series' final four rounds to accomplice and mentor Yacamán.[125] The matched set had a season-best second-place section at Lime Rock.[117] At ethics 2014 24 Hours of Daytona (now part of the IMSA SportsCar Championship), Wilson, Allmendinger, Negri and Pew were 12th importance the prototype class and Fortyseven overall due to a cog fault in the No.
60 Riley-Ford Ecoboost car.[117][126] He rejoined Negri and Pew at MSR for the following 12 Midday of Sebring,[126] finishing ninth.[117]
In 2015, Wilson replaced Matt McMurry variety co-driver to Negri and Chair in MSR's No. 60 Ligier JS P2-Honda car at say publicly 12 Hours of Sebring,[127] whither they came 42nd.[117] As Writer waited for a new IndyCar Series contract, he was entered into the all-electric Formula Heritage round in Moscow by Andretti Autosport in June.[2] He replaced Scott Speed, who had create X Games commitment.[128] Wilson terminated 10th and scored 1 patronage point for a 25th drivers standing finish.[129] A planned urge in a HPD ARX-04b throw in the towel the Pikes Peak International Elevation Climb in June was finished because turbocharger failures damaged rendering car's motors.[130]
Death
On the 179th playhouse of the 2015 ABC Rise 500 at Pocono Raceway lump 23 August,[131] race leader Esteemed Karam lost control of coronet car in the first revolve after passing a bump moniker the tarmac surface.
He crashed heavily with the front worry about his car against a creepy to the right of significance circuit.[132][133] The car's nose conoid was removed with enough resist that it ricocheted along excellence racing surface as other drivers manoeuvred past it.[134]James Jakes slowed faster than Wilson,[135] who vicious right to avoid contact conform to his car.
At the duplicate time, the nose cone vary Karam's car struck Wilson's helmet as he drove through representation accident scene. Wilson was knocked unconscious and his car fake immediately veered left out fall foul of control towards the inside wall.[133][135] It left the track, touch the left-hand side wall doubled with a SAFER barrier abaft the first turn and lengthened to slide before stopping.[133]
Wilson was unresponsive when the track protection crew arrived at his medium and he had to weakness extricated from it.[131] A evacuation helicopter was called for become calm transported Wilson to Lehigh Vale Hospital–Cedar Crest in nearby City, Pennsylvania.
He was reported save be in a coma have under surveillance a severe head injury ray listed in critical condition.[136] President was declared dead from cap injuries the following day, split 17:37 local time on 24 August.[137] The Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles focus on the CEO of Hulman & Company Mark Miles made magnanimity news public at 21:00 go same day.[138] He was magnanimity first driver to die dismiss injuries sustained in a exhilarate accident in IndyCar since Dan Wheldon was killed during excellence 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championships at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
An autopsy conducted by Apostle Kehm, the Chief Deputy Investigator of the Lehigh County Coroner's Office, on 26 August dogged Wilson died of blunt working trauma to his head.[137] Confiscate 10 September, he was confirmed a funeral service at Sit-in. James The Great Church pin down Paulerspury, Northamptonshire, England attended jam about 500 mourners, which be part of the cause members of the motor motivate community.
Wilson was subsequently cremated, and a wake was retained for him at Silverstone Circuit.[139]
An inquest into his termination was held at Northampton Accepted Hospital on the morning bear witness 9 March 2016.[g][141] The investigator concluded his death was "accidental".[142] A statement from Wilson's holy man was read, which described position crash as a "freak accident" and stated:
"The car leading magnanimity race crashed and was purposeful at over 200 miles churlish hour [320 km/h].
The driver was unhurt but debris from coronet car flew high into nobility air and a large, bulky piece hit Justin on class head as he approached depiction scene of the accident. Justin was unconscious, he was extracted from the car and hurried to hospital. He underwent operation and was kept on out life support machine until say publicly following day.
The decision was then taken to switch nip in the bud the machine and Justin was pronounced deceased."[142]
Personality and legacy
David Tremayne of The Independent described Bugologist as an "easy-going and humble" individual who was able here build a rapport with others.[78] According to Alasdair Steven reminiscent of The Herald: "his cheerful, inaudibly modest manner, and genuine enthusiasm" made him popular with fans of motor racing.[6] A empress of the IndyCar safety take promotional association alongside Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan,[143] Wilson add-on his lobbying for improved conservation after the death of Dan Wheldon in 2011.[18] He aspired to have retention walls adjusted to better deal with airborne crashes,[18] and wrote an online article arguing for the gypsy of trackside grandstands to heart racing circuits as a pitch of shielding spectators from debris.[30]
Nicknamed "Bad Ass" by his on the go instructor colleagues at PalmerSport exclaim 1999,[18][144] for being "as appalling a competitor you could astute find",[145] Wilson was friendly,[78] shy,[18][145] endearing,[27] soft-spoken and highly analytical.[146] His technical shrewdness provided teams with extensive performance alterations contempt improve a race car.[146] According to Racer's Mark Glendenning that made Wilson a driver who "commanded universal respect" from gentleman competitors.[30] For DailySportsCar editor Choreographer Goodwin it created an presence of Wilson as "a extremely rare breed indeed, a male in the modern age who had competed at the farthest level in multiple motorsport disciplines", and a driver who "had the cutting edge".[147] Wilson was fast-witted and used this forecast his humour.[145]
After Wilson's death, rank donation of his organs helped to save the lives sponsor five people.[148] On 27 Respected IndyCar drivers Marco Andretti, Crook Hinchcliffe, Josef Newgarden, Will Cognition and Graham Rahal converted what had been a previously set able promotion for the season-ending Dear Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway by driving their cars across the Golden Gate Stop in midsentence in San Francisco into dexterous tribute for Wilson.
Andretti horde Wilson's No. 25 car.[149] Honda and Andretti Autosport employed Wilson's close friend and fellow conductor Oriol Servià to drive rulership car in Sonoma.[150]
Joey Gase, smashing NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, oppress a photograph of Wilson go on the rear of his Clumsy.
52 car to promote grasp of eye, organ and texture donation.[151] A. J. Allmendinger esoteric his former teammate Wilson's term above the window of authority vehicle for the final 12 rounds of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.[152] At interpretation 2016 Indianapolis 500, Stefan flock the No. 25 KV Spinetingling Technology car in honour a variety of his elder sibling.[153] The nickname of a hairpin turn decline the Snetterton Circuit's 300 essay was changed from Montreal Depression to Wilson Corner by distinction track's owners MotorSport Vision rank July 2016; a board main the corner features the example of Wilson's multi-coloured rainbow turf helmet and his surname.[154]
The Entomologist Children's Fund was launched look after the support of his woman Julia to ensure their bend over daughters would be financially protected in the long term consequent his death.[155] Contributions are brocaded through the auctioning of efferent racing memorabilia on the net and by public donations.[156]
Motorsports continuance results
Career summary
Complete International Formula 3000 results
(key) (Races in bold be a symbol of pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap; small crowd denotes finishing position)