IndyCar driver Justin Wilson is in a state of coma after suffering a severe head injury in the race at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, United States, on Sunday, the auto racing body have confirmed in a statement.
The 37-year-old British driver is currently undergoing treatment at the Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Wilson -- who drives for team Andretti Autosport -- was struck in the head by a piece of debris that flung across from the car of Sage Karam, which crashed just during the final laps on the ABC Supply 500 at the Pocono raceway.
Wilson's blue and silver car was speeding past when Karam's Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet spun and crashed at lap 179 of the race. Although the 20-year-old Karam managed to escape promptly and only suffered a foot injury, it is reported that the nose cone from the American's car flew across and struck Wilson in the head.
The Briton probably lost his consciousness at once and his car rammed straight into a wall.
Wilson's Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay, who won the IndyCar race on Sunday, reacted when he was told that Wilson was "unconscious and not responding".
"That's obviously very bad details," Hunter-Reay was quoted by Agence France-Presse.
"It's just a tough one right now," said team owner Michael Andretti. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin right now. We're going to see. Hopefully, he's OK."
Wilson is survived by his wife Julia, and their two daughters. His brother Stefan Wilson, also a racing driver, tweeted that both he and Justin's wife are travelling to Pennsylvania to see the Briton.
Wilson has been a part of the Formula One World Championships in 2003. He then plied his trade with the Champ Car World Series and finally made his transition to the IndyCar series in 2008.
