Members of the IndyCar community gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tuesday evening to celebrate the life of Justin Wilson. The Verizon IndyCar Series driver was killed when he was struck by debris from Sage Karam's crashed IndyCar in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway on August 23 at 37 years of age.
The former Formula One driver from Sheffield, England was buried following a service at the parish church Paulerspury, Northhamptonshire on September 10. Tuesday evening's service at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a chance for members of the sport to pay tribute to their fallen comrade - a driver who won seven Verizon IndyCar Series races.
Wilson's younger brother, Stefan, spoke on behalf of the family.
"Julia (Wilson's widow) asked me to read a letter and will hopefully lift the spirit a bit," Stefan said. "I want to take the opportunity to thank the whole community. It seems like they are hurting just as much as me. Justin would be pleased to know I am getting the help that I need. The love, kindness and generosity are overwhelming.
"My world has been turned upside down. I miss him every moment of every day. Knowing that he lives on in others is a comfort."
Wilson struggled with Dyslexia but that never kept him from reading to his young daughters, Jane and Jessica. Julia also mentioned in the letter the comical time that they met.
"Justin was my 'One in a Million,'" Julia said through Stefan. "I will cherish every moment I ever had with him."
Sports Car team owner Mike Shank remembered Wilson as a friend and a driver that drove Shank's race cars in what is now IMSA for 10 years in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
"We are here today to celebrate the life of Justin Wilson because Justin Wilson loved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."
"Justin was as capable as a driver as he would have been a team owner," Shank said. "He made each one of the team feel invaluable. I felt like I would go to war for the guy.
"I'm mad. I'm (ticked) off that his family will be without him. I'm mad that a guy like Justin is ripped from all of us for no explainable reason. What are the odds of what happened to him? I'm mad that Justin had to be taken from us for racing to be improved.
"Really, though, I'm just really sad.
"But we were the lucky ones. Justin taught us how to be better, more humble people. He showed us what patience and humility should look like. Justin's favorite thing to tell me was 'No problem.' He never, ever said no to me."
Shank also told how Wilson, at 6-foot-4, shared a sports car with 5-foot tall A.J. Allmendinger.
Engineer Bill Pappas enjoyed some of his great success working with Wilson.
"None of us know or understand why it has happened but there is a reason why and we have to understand one day it will be revealed to us," Pappas said. "Justin wasn't just a great racer - he was a great man. He loved his family. He always shared priceless stories of the girls' antics. He appreciated everyone he came in contact with. He loved what he was doing and shared that passion with everyone he met.
"Enough cannot be said for the support and efforts of Graham Rahal (who is in charge of an eBay auction to support Wilson's family). And I can't thank Scott Dixon enough for his support.
"We need to challenge ourselves to make IndyCar racing the greatest spectacle in sports. That is why Justin Wilson did this. May God Bless Julia and your family. I miss your husband."
Four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon spoke about Wilson's battle with Dyslexia and how he helped young children realize it was a "hurdle and not a wall." He was chosen by his fellow drivers to give the toast to Wilson's life.
"We can't know why some things happen but we can know why love and memories can overcome grief and where no one as special as Justin will ever be forgotten," Dixon said as he raised a glass to Wilson.
NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger was Wilson's teammate in the old Champ Car Series and sent his thoughts in a video message.
"When I think of Justin I think of all the great times we had together on and off the race track," Allmendinger said. "All the Champ Car after-parties we had such great times. The endless hours we spent in his house playing Forza trying to one-up each other. All the podiums we shared, no bigger for me than winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona. All those special moments - to me he was always smiling. He was a true gentleman and was smiling all the time. That will always stand out, no matter how things were.
"I will never say goodbye, J Will, I will see you later."
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a place that Wilson loved. He competed in eight Indianapolis 500s with a best finish of fifth in 2013.
"We are more than a community; we are a family," said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles. "The fans are the first to come to Gate 1 and celebrate the life of Justin Wilson. We didn't ask them to do that; they did it on their own. They brought their works, their photos and their memories of Justin Wilson.
"We are here today to celebrate the life of Justin Wilson because Justin Wilson loved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"It was Justin Wilson's genuine care of others that people hold near and dear. We are here to remember much more than a race car driver. We are here to celebrate a man who left this community much better than it was before he got here. We will celebrate Justin in a way that will make Justin proud."
