Justin Wilson passes away after being struck on the head in an accident

Justin Wilson

Great Britain IndyCar driver Justin Wilson passed away on Monday after suffering from a serious head injury during a wreck at the final laps of a race on Sunday at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, NDTV reports

The incident occurred when Wilson’s car careened out of control and into a wall after he was struck by a massive debris from the car of Sage Karam.

The Chief Executive Officer of Indy Car released a statement, saying Wilson’s loss was a huge loss to the motorsports community.

“This is a monumentally sad day for IndyCar and the motorsports community as a whole," the chief executive officer of Hulman & Co. which is the parent of Indy Car and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mark Miles said in a statement released.

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," he added.

The 37-year-old Wilson was a seven-time IndyCar winner and had raced in Formula One in 2003 with Minardi. Prior to joining IndyCar in 2008, Wilson was also part of the Champ Car World Series for a period of three years between 2004 and 2007. In 54 starts during that period, Wilson won 4 races and also was on pole position on 6 occasions.

During his seven-year IndyCar career, he represented 4 teams - Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, Dale Coyne Racing and finally the Andretti Autosport in 2015.

He had in total 120 starts, off which he won 3 races, finished on pole twice and recorded fastest laps on two occasions. Apart from being a professional racer, Wilson was also thorough family man, who is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Karem took to twitter to express his sadness over the demise.

I can't find the proper words to describe the pain and sympathy I feel for Justin and his family. #RIPJustin

— Sage Karam (@SageKaram) August 25, 2015

Valuable asset to the team: Andretti Autosport

The family in a statement said that Wilson was “loving father and devoted husband, as well as a highly competitive racing driver who was respected by his peers".

Andretti Autosport also released a statement, saying that Wilson was a valuable asset to the team and they were grieved over his passing away.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Justin Wilson. He was a tremendous racer, a valuable member of the team and respected representative to our sport,” they said in a statement.

"He was a tremendous racer, a valuable member of the team and respected representative to our sport,” the statement added.

Wilson is the first driver to have passed away following a race accident since fellow countrymen Dan Wheldon, who was killed in a fiery crash Las Vegas in October 2011.

RIP #JustinWilson ........thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

— Bill Goldberg (@Goldberg) August 25, 2015