Stefan Wilson transported to hospital ‘in good spirits’ after Indy 500 practice crash

INDIANAPOLIS — In the first crash on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month in preparation for the 107th Indy 500, Stefan Wilson was placed on a stretcher and transported to the hospital after colliding with Katherine Legge in Turn 1 during practice Monday.

The crash occurred when Legge ran into the back of Wilson just above the white line on the entry to the corner as they approached a line of cars. The two cars made contact near the apex of the turn, and that sent both machines shooting up to the outside wall.

Both cars made very heavy contact with the outside wall, Legge’s No. 44 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara-Honda briefly lifted off the pavement before sliding through the south chute. Legge was able to get out of the car near Turn 2 once the AMR Safety Team arrived.

After slamming the wall head on in his No. 24 Chevrolet, Wilson needed assistance from the AMR Safety Team. With the use of a backboard, he was placed on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance. According to the IMS public address announcer, Wilson was being taken directly to Methodist Hospital for further evaluation.

The Sheffield, England, native gave a thumbs up to the crowd from the stretcher while being wheeled to the ambulance.

Dr. Julia Vaizer, director of medical services for the NTT IndyCar Series, told NBC Sports’ Dillon Welch that Wilson was alert and communicating with medical personnel throughout the incident.

“I can tell you he’s doing well,” Vaizer said. “He’s being transported to local hospital for advanced imaging and further evaluation, but he’s in good spirits.”

Legge said she was OK after being evaluated at the IU Health Infield Medical Hospital.

“The cars in front were all checking up,” Legge told NBC Sports’ Dillon Welch. “I lifted as much as I could and downshifted, hit the brakes, but it wasn’t enough as they were checking up. So I ran into the back of Stefan, and we both ended up in the wall.”

Legge said she was unsure of the backup situation at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which failed to qualify Graham Rahal’s car Sunday for the Indy 500. RLL teammate Jack Harvey bumped Rahal from the 33-car starting lineup, joining Legge and Christian Lundgaard (who all qualified in the last two rows).

“I know it’s another blow to the team, though after yesterday, those guys don’t deserve it,” Legge said. “That’s not right.”

It was the first crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the track opened for Indy 500 practice last Wednesday (after a Tuesday session was rained out).

Stefan Wilson transported to hospital ‘in good spirits’ after Indy 500 practice crash originally appeared on NBCSports.com