Stefan Wilson will miss the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge after suffering a back injury in a two-car crash Monday afternoon during practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
British driver Wilson suffered a fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebrae and will remain overnight at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for further tests and observation, according to a statement from Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports.
The team will release more information about its plans “in due course,” the statement said.
Wilson and fellow British driver Katherine Legge were involved in the first accident of the event at 2:11 p.m. ET Monday.
The No. 44 Hendrickson Honda driven by Legge made contact with the No. 24 DRR Cusick CareKeepers Chevrolet of Wilson in Turn 1, with both cars hitting the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1. Legge’s car continued down the track and made secondary contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2.
Legge climbed from the car without assistance and was evaluated and released from the IU Health Emergency Medical Center at the track. Wilson was conscious and alert when removed from the car by the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team and was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital.
Wilson qualified 25th at 231.648 mph Saturday and was poised to make his fifth career Indianapolis 500 start.
The next on-track session will be the final practice from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET Friday on Miller Lite Carb Day. The 107th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 28 (11 a.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, Universo, INDYCAR Radio Network).