---
title: "Robert Wickens’ Spinal Cord Stabilized With Titanium Hardware After Vicious Crash"
description: "It's now clear that the Canadian rising star's career will have to be put on hold indefinitely."
date: "2018-08-21"
modified: "2018-08-21"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/23044/robert-wickens-spinal-cord-stabilized-with-titanium-hardware-after-vicious-crash"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Andretti Autosport"
  - "Crash"
  - "indycar"
  - "James Hinchcliffe"
  - "News"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Robert Wickens"
  - "Ryan Hunter-Reay"
---

# Robert Wickens’ Spinal Cord Stabilized With Titanium Hardware After Vicious Crash

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/jdc_indy500_0148-a.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports racing driver Robert Wickens underwent surgery Monday evening for a spinal injury he suffered as a result of Sunday's [violent crash](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/23007/indycar-robert-wickens-under-medical-evaluation-after-violent-crash>) at Pocono Raceway. The Canadian is in stable condition, but he also broke both of his ankles, an arm, and suffered a pulmonary contusion.

According to a statement released by the team on Tuesday morning, the emergency surgery aimed to stabilize a thoracic spinal fracture associated with a spinal cord injury he sustained on Sunday.

"Titanium rods and screws were placed successfully in Wickens' spine during the surgery, which was performed without complication," said a team spokesperson. "The severity of the spinal cord injury is indeterminate at this time. Wickens is expected to undergo further surgeries to treat fractures in his lower extremities and right forearm. He remains in stable condition."

The crash happened while Wickens and Ryan Hunter-Reay were contesting the seventh lap of the ABC Supply 500-mile race when the two touched each other while negotiating the lower section of Pocono's tri-oval and lost control of their machines. Hunter-Reay was immediately slammed against the wall but Wickens caught air and quickly began [flying through the air](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/23007/indycar-robert-wickens-under-medical-evaluation-after-violent-crash>) and spinning wildly out of control. The vicious collision also took out James Hinchcliffe, [Pietro Fittipaldi](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22392/pietro-fittipaldi-gets-behind-the-wheel-of-an-indycar-two-months-after-gruesome-crash>), and Takuma Sato.

The motorsports community has rallied around the Canadian racing star during these tough times, with drivers, teams, and fans sharing positive messages on social media.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmtFQhLAFQc

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmrgbWKHC2w

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmsc2WIgMnp

We will update this story as medical updates are released by official sources.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)