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Robert Wickens #6 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Dallara-Honda
after exiting the Tech line at Indianapolis during this year's Bump Day
festivities.(the Tomaso Collection)
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Yeah, this is extremely Dated, but I'm
throwing it out Thar' upon the "Intrawoods" anyways, since I wasn't
able to watch; err listen to the Pocono 500 IndyCar race Wayback on August
19th.
Ironically, I spent the day first waiting 'N
waiting for Claudio', my anointed Moving Truck Driver to be ready to depart
from our Tacoma lair', while Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen & I, along with
Pixie-the-Wonderdog; WUF-WUF! Ridin' Shotgun upon thou lap in the "chase
Vehicle," which Claudio enjoys calling his "Grocery Getter!" His
Dodge Caravan loaded to the Gills with my many framed Auto Racing Artwork pieces
filling up the rear cabin headed South for the day's journey.
As we finally departed from Tacoma around
1:30PM, (Pacific) after filling the vehicle's petrol tanks, before arriving in
Florence, Oregon approximately at 9PM that evening.
Alas, in the midst of All of this moving
chaos, I didn't get around to checking to see who'd won the Pocono IndyCar race
until the following Thursday morning Aug 23, (Claire's second Chemotherapy
treatment) via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone service.
Naturally, I was Shocked when listening to
the Indianapolis Star's Sports section regarding Robert Wickens Horrendous
Accident! For which it only seems like a miracle he survived this wicked
incident!
As my shock subsided, I initially thought of
'Ol Dario REO Speedwagon Franchitti, who wisely retired from IndyCar racing
after his Mega' Fence Climbing Shunt at Houston many years ago.
Whilst I find it a Wee Bitamyte' Karmic that
thee "young Wicky," aka Robert Wickens, who apparently suffered
Spinal Cord damage amongst his other injuries! Drives for Sam Schmidt, who we
all know is paralyzed from his Indy Racing League (IRL) Off-season Testing
Accident at Walt Disney Speedway nearly two decades ago,
in early January, 2000...
Yet since I wasn't able to watch; err listen
to this year's Pocono 500, which it's many hours Red Flag Delay to fix the
Catch Fencing, Clean-up Debris, etc. conjures up thoughts of sitting thru that
abombanle 2011 Las Vegas "Who's your Daddy?" World Finale
Sweepstakes, for which Dannyboy Spike' Wheldon un-needlessly lost his life.
Hence, I relied upon my two primary IndyCar
bloggers for their insights to the Pocono 500 fiasco, since as I've already
mentioned. I managed to stay in a virtual News Blackout until the following
Thursday morning.
As I'm always open
to learning about more IndyCar Bloggers, since although I know of Mike Silver's
The Pit Window. It seems to always come up backwards with his initial October 24,
2017 post appearing first for Mwah when querying it directly; for which I
didn't feel like attempting to wade thru every post. Therefore, I just go with
the two IndyCar Bloggers I enjoy reading the most currently, albeit I'd enjoy
having Jeffie' write more often...
First I went with Jeff Iannucci's One Lap
Down, simply since it was the easier to access, while Geo. Phillips of
Oilpressure Fame's post was slightly buried in the Older Posts link.
As typical, both "Veteran" IndyCar
bloggers make Thar usual salient points, as I agree with Messer Iannucci that
it would have been beneficial to know that Robert Wickens was at least awake
and alive in less than the 50 Odd minutes it took for this announcement.
Although I understand Indy Cars reluctance to publicly announce anything until
110% certain of all "Factual" information available for Public
consumption.
While George Phillips of Oilpressure wrote his
typically informative Post Race thoughts in the following post.
Yet weirdly, the part that struck a chord
with Mwah, was Geo. Phillips, Ye OLD-est IndyCar Blogger; Hya! Musings upon the
apparent outcry on Social Media over Michael Andretti's "Callous"
comments afterwards regarding the racing incident between Wickens and his
Charge Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Although I've never been a Mikey A' Fan,
which really Doesn't Matter, nonetheless as George rightly points out,
Michael's seen, witnessed and been involved in how many On-track Crashes during
his lifetime as a Driver and Team Owner, Eh?
As George also points out, racing was a far more
Dangerous sport during the early 1960-70's involving Driver Fatalities, which
Wickens could certainly have led to, but Thankfully Didn't!
Hence, this made me think about how many Open
Wheel Racing Drivers have perished from racing accidents since I began
following the sport in earnest mid-1986. Having not known of the late Elio de
Angelis's Death in Testing NO less prior to my Formula 1 Baptism.
Having brought
this up simply since I cannot pontificate upon Michael Andretti's interview
comments one way or the other. Except by saying, there's NO such thing as a
"Safe" racecar!
Alas, I'll refrain from giving a long list of
Hapless racers over the past 30yrs, since Robert Wickens fortunately isn't one
of them. since we all know that he's been subsequently transferred to
Indianapolis's Methodist Hospital to undergo further surgery and then hopefully
begin his long road to recovery, for which hopefully he'll return to racing one
day?
Although I must say I've got my doubts,
especially if his spinal cord injury was severe, to which I don't think has
ever truly been divulged? But will the Doctors inform him that another serious
accident could leave him permanently Paralyzed, a la current IndyCar team owner
Sam Schmidt?
For which I'm
simply speculating upon, without wishing any ill-will or lingering side effects
to Wickens future, especially after marveling over his immense Open Wheel
Racing talent this year prior to Pocono...
Whilst I think the Robert Wickens Merchandise
to Support his Recovery and help Defray some of his Gynormous' Medical Bills are
still available?
(Photo c/o No Fenders ‘Offical Photographer
CARPETS')