By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Following his violent crash Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Robert Wickens underwent spinal surgery Monday night at Lehigh Valley-Cedar Crest Hospital to stabilize a thoracic spinal fracture associated with a spinal cord injury.
During the surgery, which was deemed “without complications” in a Verizon IndyCar Series report, titanium rods and screws were placed in Wickens’ spine. The severity of the injury is “indeterminate at this time” however he remains in stable condition.
Wickens is expected to undergo further surgeries to treat fractures to his lower extremities and right forearm.
During Sunday’s ABC Supply 500, Wickens was launched into the catch fence following contact with Ryan Hunter-Reay on the race’s opening green-flag lap. Disintegrated by the Turn 2 fence, Wickens’ No. 6 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports chassis landed right-side-up and slid to a stop where medical crews attended the driver. The race restarted after a red flag period with Alexander Rossi winning the event.
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