TORONTO, Ont — One of the big headlines coming into the NTT IndyCar Series' annual stop in Toronto was the surprise announcement that Robert Wickens would be back on track driving the pacelap for Sunday's Honda Indy Toronto. Wickens will drive a custom Acura NSX supercar desgined by Schmidt-Petersen Motorsports title sponsor Arrow Electronics.
However, while this annoucement may have come as a last minute suprise. The announcement shows a testament to the hardwork and dedication put in by Wickens, not to just get back in a car but to be able to walk again.
In a Friday afternoon press conference, Wickens addressed an eager Toronto crowd. Wickens had said while one of his main goals is to get back in an NTT IndyCar, he has another top goal in mind. Set to marry his longtime girlfriend Karli Woods, Wickens said goal No.1 is to be able to dance at his wedding.
Getting back into a car is something that Wickens has been looking forward to. Driving the NSX using the hand controls is somthing Wickens is nervous for but ready to do.
"Once I got out there on track there was a lot of problem solving going on, and I’m honestly still trying to figure it out cause it’s not second nature, be any means" Wickens said.
"Originally in my head when I’ve been thinking about this for hours and hours and hours at night while I was in rehab was I figured I’d have throttle on one side, brake on another side and it was very important to me that my hands can’t leave the steering wheel in order to driver NTT Indycar. Because the steering wheel is everything and the amount of power steering in this championship."👋🻠pic.twitter.com/Cw05bHplyc
— Karli Woods (@itsKarliWoods) July 12, 2019
Wickens' team owner Sam Schmidt has been credited as one of biggest helping hands during the recovery process. Schmidt, a quadroplegic himself, was injured during a sever testing accident at the Walt Disney World Speedway in 2000. Following Wickens' crash Schmidt did what ever he could to support the Canadian in his journey back to health.
"Sam has been a great person to have in my corner through this entire thing" Wickens said. "He was very helpful during the beginning stages of the injury, helping my family with anything we needed at the start and once we were put into the hospital, even though I was already sleeping, he was ensuring that we had good doctors and once we got to the rehab phases later on, he was really in depth with what facility might be the best to go to with my condition"
Step 1: Get in the Acura NSX
Step 2: Go full throttle, "just to see what it would do" 🤣#indyTO // @robertwickens pic.twitter.com/KuEY0n8If5— NTT IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) July 13, 2019
Schmidt even went as far as assigning the team's new driver Marcus Ericsson the No.7, thus reserving Wickens' No.6 car at the SPM camp for the day he evenitably returns to racing.
The road to recovery hasn't been an easy one for the Guelph, Ontario driver, but Wickens credits the overwhelming online support, the support from his family, team and fiance as a huge factor that has kept him going in the recovery. The IndyCar Series themselves have shown their support as well, adding Wicken's No.6 NSX to the race's spotter guide.
"I mean this from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone that has supported me from before the accident the people that have been very supportive afterwards" Wickens said. "If I’m having a bad day. I can almost lean on everybody to help pick me up and it's not just the fans."
"It's the entire Schmidt Peterson team" Wickens added. "It's a lot of my family, a lot of a lot of my fiance Carly and I think that the biggest thing is if it wasn't for all the support that I received from everyone I honestly don't know."
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