Justin Wilson will miss the IndyCar race in Mid-Ohio this afternoon as he will be transported to Indianapolis for further evaluations on his condition.
Wilson suffered a fracture of the fifth thoracic vertebra after his car leaped through the grass exiting Turn 1 in Saturday's morning practice, coming down on a section of asphalt used for the course's alternate configuration.
"The grass is very, very rough," explained three-time champion Dario Franchitti. "Massive undulations. Then you swap onto an access road, then it goes back onto the grass.
"The difference can be as much as a foot in places. Especially there, I don't know what the speed is in miles an hour, but it's bloody quick. The cars don't deal with that kind of rough ground."
It is a second fracture for the former Formula 1 driver this season. Wilson also suffered a broken wrist in the 2011 season opener.
Simon Pagenaud (ALMS) will replace Wilson on Sunday. He was the one to qualify the car on Saturday afternoon. Ironically, Pagenaud had not brought his own gear to the track this weekend, not thinking someone might get hurt.
"I feel really sorry for Justin," he said. "He's a good friend and you never wish for this kind of situation to happen. I'm glad that the team asked me to represent them. I'm pleased that they have confidence in me to do the job."
Pagenaud will start from 18th on the grid... with other IndyCar drivers' lended gear.
Wilson suffered a fracture of the fifth thoracic vertebra after his car leaped through the grass exiting Turn 1 in Saturday's morning practice, coming down on a section of asphalt used for the course's alternate configuration.
"The grass is very, very rough," explained three-time champion Dario Franchitti. "Massive undulations. Then you swap onto an access road, then it goes back onto the grass.
"The difference can be as much as a foot in places. Especially there, I don't know what the speed is in miles an hour, but it's bloody quick. The cars don't deal with that kind of rough ground."
It is a second fracture for the former Formula 1 driver this season. Wilson also suffered a broken wrist in the 2011 season opener.
Simon Pagenaud (ALMS) will replace Wilson on Sunday. He was the one to qualify the car on Saturday afternoon. Ironically, Pagenaud had not brought his own gear to the track this weekend, not thinking someone might get hurt.
"I feel really sorry for Justin," he said. "He's a good friend and you never wish for this kind of situation to happen. I'm glad that the team asked me to represent them. I'm pleased that they have confidence in me to do the job."
Pagenaud will start from 18th on the grid... with other IndyCar drivers' lended gear.