Last Updated on January 15, 2023 by CCAR Staff
Ryan Hunter-Reay won the crash-filled IndyCar ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, where the focus was on an accident involving Andretti Autosport teammate Justin Wilson.
Wilson was airlifted out of the track with a head injury after he was hit by a large piece of debris that broke off Sage Karam’s car when Karam spun into the wall. Wilson’s car veered left and directly into an interior wall.
Wilson was swarmed by the safety crew and airlifted by helicopter from the track. IndyCar gave no details of his injuries beyond confirming the British driver sustained a head injury.
“It’s just a tough one right now,” said Michael Andretti, car owner for both Wilson and Hunter-Reay. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now. We’re going to see. Hopefully he’s OK.”
Karam was taken to a hospital with an injury to his right foot.
IndyCar had a subdued victory lane and Hunter-Reay was not sprayed with the traditional confetti.
The American said his thoughts were only with Wilson, an extremely popular driver in the paddock who speaks on behalf of his peers regarding safety and competition.
“All I know is that he was unconscious, he was not responding and he was airlifted,” Hunter-Reay said. “That’s all very bad. I’m very worried right now.”
The race resumed after the accident with seven laps remaining and Hunter-Reay picked his way through the field. He passed Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato and then used a bold inside pass of leader Gabby Chaves to take the lead with five to go. Chaves then appeared to have an engine failure that brought out the caution with three to go. The race ended under yellow.
Josef Newgarden was second and IndyCar points leader Juan Pablo Montoya finished third.
Graham Rahal, who was second in the standings at the start of the race, was involved in an early crash. Montoya’s cushion went from nine points to 35 with next Sunday’s finale in Sonoma set to decide the title.
The finale is worth double points, and six drivers will head to California in contention for the title. Hunter-Reay is mathematically eliminated, but picked up his second win of the season in what’s been a disappointing year for Andretti and Honda.
NHRA
Richie Crampton raced to his fourth Top Fuel victory of the season to close out a record-setting day at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
Top Fuel and Funny Car teams took advantage of cool, overcast conditions at Brainerd International Raceway to break all four national records in those categories.
In Top Fuel, Antron Brown set the elapsed-time record at 3.680 seconds, and Spencer Massey broke the speed mark at 332.75 mph. In Funny Car, Jack Beckman set the time record at 3.901, and Matt Hagan broke the speed mark at 329.58. Hagan also had the quickest Funny Car time in history at 3.879, and Shawn Langdon the quickest Top Fuel time at 3.664, but they failed to certify those times.
Crampton beat Brittany Force in the final round with a 3.695 at 325.30.
“This race is going to go down in the history books,” Crampton said. “It was just some amazing racing today and there were some super-fast race cars out there. I keep forgetting that I ran a (3.69) in the final, because winning the event is so important.”
Robert Hight won in Funny Car, Erica Enders in Pro Stock, and Eddie Krawiec in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Formula One
Lewis Hamilton won the Belgian Grand Prix from pole, holding off Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg and padding his lead in the F1 championship standings.
The defending champion was two seconds ahead at the finish line for his sixth victory of the season in 11 races. Rosberg had a poor start and dropped from second to fourth before regaining the second position. The two Mercedes cars were dominant throughout the race.
Hamilton’s 39th career victory gave him a 28-point lead over Rosberg in the drivers’ standings.
