Stefan Wilson Suffers Broken Vertebrae In Indianapolis 500 Practice Crash
Stefan Wilson Suffers Broken Vertebrae ... In Indy 500 Practice Crash
UPDATE
9:23 AM PT -- 5/23 -- Stefan Wilson just shared an update from his hospital bed ... saying he's "doing well, all things considered."
UPDATE
He thanked his fans for their support ... and vowed to try to make a full recovery in time for next year's Indy 500.
UPDATE
6:40 AM PT -- 5/23 -- Awful news for Stefan Wilson ... the driver's team revealed he suffered a fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebrae in the crash and will now be forced to miss this weekend's big race.
UPDATE
The team added that Wilson stayed overnight at the hospital "for further tests and observation."
Scary moment at Indianapolis 500 practice on Monday ... Stefan Wilson was taken off the track on a stretcher after his car violently collided with a wall during a wild wreck.
The crash happened just moments ago at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway ... when Katherine Legge got into Wilson's ride in Turn 1.
Accidente durísimo entre Katherine Legge y Stefan Wilson, el primero del mes en el que Wilson se lleva la peor parte, Katherine sale por su propio pie pero al piloto lo evacúan en camilla, el angulo de impacto frontal es lo preocupante #IndyCar #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/5ugPaENaku
— Ulter Motorsports #Indy500 🥛🧱 (@ultermotorsport) May 22, 2023 @ultermotorsport
You can see in video of the accident, Legge struck Wilson with so much force ... both of their cars skidded into a nearby wall -- with Wilson's vehicle seemingly getting the worst of the impact.
Trainers immediately raced to tend to both drivers ... and, eventually, Wilson was strapped to a backboard and loaded into an ambulance.
Stefan Wilson gives the thumbs up. Good to see. pic.twitter.com/3NLrzwxmr5
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) May 22, 2023 @MrMatthewCFB
Thankfully, Wilson was able to give a thumbs up just before he was transported to a nearby hospital ... and, according to IndyCar medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer, he's now "doing well" and is "in good spirits."
Legge, meanwhile, was evaluated by medics following the crash -- but has since been cleared to drive again.
Graham Rahal & much of the @RLLracing team at the RLL garages surveying the major damage to Katherine Leg he’s No. 44 chassis damaged in her practice crash with Stefan Wilson. pic.twitter.com/xPLCL0yYdq
— Nathan Brown (@By_NathanBrown) May 22, 2023 @By_NathanBrown
The scene couldn't have been scarier for the 33-year-old Wilson and his family ... as Wilson's older brother, Justin, tragically died in an on-track accident back in 2015.
It's unclear if Stefan or Legge will now be able to race in the 107th iteration of the Indy 500 on Sunday.
Originally Published -- 5/22 2:08 PM PT
