Moments before walking in front of the student body at Fortune Academy in Indianapolis, Justin Wilson reminded himself to keep the fidgeting to a minimum.

Uneasiness speaking to a large group of students was outweighed by his message: With perseverance and assistance from parents and teachers, you will overcome dyslexia.

The assembly was brief but personal as Wilson shared how as a youth he weathered ridicule by classmates because of his dyslexia but occasionally withdrew to an inner sanctum. Receiving assistance from family, teachers and technology through the years, Wilson virtually overcame the learning disorder characterized by difficulty in reading.

Wilson also was a regular and eager participant in Racing For Kids visits to children's hospitals in Verizon IndyCar Series race markets. Most recently, he met with patients and signed autographs Aug. 21 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa., ahead of the race at Pocono Raceway. Between room visits, he texted with his wife to check on how their youngest daughter was getting along on her first day of school.

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Wilson, who succumbed Aug. 24 to a head injury sustained in the Aug. 23 race, was a devoted husband and father of two daughters, and rarely turned down a request. Ask to tag along during a cycling workout near his Colorado home and he would smile widely and say, "Sure," and extend the jaunt to playfully make a point.

He was respected as a competitor and universally liked in the Verizon IndyCar Series paddock. Wilson was one of the three individuals to serve as liaisons between competitors and the sanctioning body relating to safety and technical subjects, and two of the most recent cockpit safety initiatives were direct results of injuries he sustained in races. He even looked ahead as an organ donor, which will go to six individuals.

"Obviously, Justin was a great professional driver and extremely good at his craft. Beyond that he was a great guy," Verizon IndyCar Series team co-owner/driver Ed Carpenter said. "One of the few, if only, guys that really was a friend among everyone in the paddock, amongst the competitors, and respected for the way he carried himself."

Added Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway: "Justin's elite ability to drive a race car was matched by his unwavering kindness, character and humility — which is what made him one of the most respected members of the paddock."

Wilson joined Andretti Autosport in May for a partial schedule as the team’s fourth Honda-powered entry. He also drove for the team in an FIA Formula E Championship race in Russia and competed in a Honda Performance Development entry in the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

"He was a tremendous racer, a valuable member of the team and respected representative to our sport," Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti said. "While Justin was only part of the Andretti lineup for a short time, it only took a second for him to forever become part of the Andretti family. His life and racing career is a story of class and passion surpassed by none."

Wilson, of Sheffield, England, began racing karts in 1987 and earned international attention in 1998 when he won the inaugural Formula Palmer Audi championship with nine victories. He was a finalist for the prestigious British Road Racing Drivers Club Young Driver of the Year Award and the next year he moved to the FIA International F3000 championship. Wilson won the series title in 2001 and continued to win races in 2002 in the Telefonica World Series by Nissan.

Wilson broke into Formula One in 2003 with Minardi and switched to Jaguar Racing for the final five events of the season. His initial F1 points were scored in the U.S. Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Wilson moved to the United States to compete in Champ Car in 2004 with Conquest Racing. He earned his first victory in 2005 at Toronto while driving for RuSport and finished second in the championship standings to Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 and ’07.

When open-wheel racing merged in 2008 under the INDYCAR banner, Wilson competed in all 16 races for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. His victory at Belle Isle was the last for the storied Indy car team. Wilson moved to Dale Coyne Racing for the 2009 season, and also drove for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2010 and 2011. He returned to Dale Coyne Racing for the next three seasons.

"Justin was the kindest, gentlest racer that we have ever known," Coyne said. "All of us that got to know Justin or just met him in passing must be saddened by this astonishing loss."

Wilson’s exploits weren’t limited to Indy car racing. He co-drove a Michael Shank Racing sports car entry to the overall victory in the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2012. He also co-drove a Michael Shank Racing entry to second place in 2006 and third place in 2013 in the endurance race.