Wickens set to make IndyCar return
in virtual race
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[April 04, 2020]
By Steve Keating
(Reuters) - Robert Wickens will be back behind the wheel on Saturday
for the first time since a near fatal crash two years ago and while
it will be a virtual IndyCar race the Canadian sees it is another
step towards the real thing.
"I'm just excited to drive something. Last night was the first time
I've driven any form of race car since the accident at Pocono
Speedway," Wickens told reporters during a conference call on
Friday, after getting in his first few practice laps at Barber
Motorsport Park.
"Even though it was virtual it still felt pretty good."
With the novel coronavirus outbreak forcing a shutdown of global
sport it has presented an unexpected opportunity for Wickens, who
sustained devastating spinal injuries in the crash, to once again go
wheel-to-wheel with his IndyCar Series rivals in the iRacing IndyCar
Challenge.
Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar have all found eager audiences for
virtual racing in the absence of the real thing, with drivers, like
fans, looking to fill a sporting void.
Last week's series opener at a virtual Watkins Glen was won by Sage
Karam and attracted more than 400,000 viewers on live streaming.
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Yet those numbers are expected to jump on Saturday with the Indy
Grand Prix of Alabama airing live on NBCSN, using their number one
broadcast crew.
The starting grid will feature IndyCar series drivers champion Josef
Newgarden, a host of Indianapolis 500 winners including New
Zealand's Scott Dixon, Australian Will Power and seven-time NASCAR
Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.
Yet the driver in the spotlight is likely to be Wickens, who will be
testing out a steering wheel with hand brakes and a gear shifter
that he hopes will one day allow him to get back into a real IndyCar.
"It's weird it is kind of a mental overload my brain was exploding
from figuring out how to use the hand brakes the feeling of it and
everything," said Wickens. "It is a lot of work to do in a short
amount of time.
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Injured IndyCar Series
driver Robert Wickens during Carb Day practice for the 103rd Running
of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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"I always knew race simulation was going to be the best way to try
all the different hand brake configurations or paddle configurations
so this is really just step one of a hundred to get me back into the
IndyCar series."
While other drivers are treating the iRacing IndyCar Challenge as a
diversion and a bit of fun, for Wickens it is serious business
taking him closer to his stated goal of getting back in the cockpit
of an IndyCar.
That had seemed an impossible dream in the aftermath of his horrific
crash on Aug. 19 almost two years ago when his car became airborne,
catapulted into the catch-fencing and disintegrated across the
track.
Along with a thoracic spinal fracture and a spinal cord injury that
left him paralyzed, Wickens also suffered tibia and fibular
fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, a fractured right
forearm, a fractured elbow, four fractured ribs and a pulmonary
contusion.
Wickens's courageous efforts to walk, dance at his wedding and get
back into a race car have been documented with regular posts on
social media.
The 31-year-old Canadian has made remarkable progress, regaining
some feeling in his legs and standing on his own.
"I am just so happy I can get back and compete with these guys,"
said Wickens. "The biggest thing for me is, although this is fun, I
see this as the long term project of getting me back into a race
car."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Toby Davis)
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