IndyCar driver colleagues and Robert Wickens feel the same way

March 12, 2018

IndyCar driver colleagues and Robert Wickens feel the same way

Robert Wickens made the most impressive IndyCar debut since Sebastien Bourdais – The tragic end of his race does not leave other drivers untouched.

He has nothing to blame himself for: Robert Wickens did not do anything at the season opener in St. Wickens. Petersburg everything was right until a string of events brought him to victory at his premiere in the IndyCar series. Starting with a bizarre safety car restart, the confusion led to an impetuous attack by Alexander Rossi, who lost control and pushed the former DTM driver out of control. Instead of the victory there was place 18 for Wickens at the end.

Even Sebastien Bourdais, who inherited the victory, said immediately after the race that the fate of the Canadian had broken his heart. Graham Rahal, second place in St. Peter’s. Pete took Pete, and he was not unaffected:”I will go to him and talk to him. Cheer up. He did a phenomenal job this weekend. Of course I didn’t notice so much of what he did at the top, but he obviously had a very strong car. Hats off to Schmidt/Peterson!”

I’m so disappointed about Robbie,”says team mate James Hinchcliffe, who finished fourth in the race,” It was a textbook race from pole position. Alex is a fast and very aggressive driver and we knew he would try something. It’s a pity it had to end like this.”

Jack Harvey, driving for the Schmidt Peterson team’s Michael Shank offshoot, announces via Twitter:”I’m so sorry for Robert! Man, you’ve put down one of the best weekends I’ve ever seen here! You are a true champion! What a mess for the entire crew!”

Leena Gade, a racing engineer who was still known in Europe from Audis Lee-Mans’ days and who made her IndyCar debut in Europe, writes:”First IndyCar race on P4 came to an end, but as Robert Wickens put it, your heart breaks. After this excellent debut weekend Robbie definitely didn’t deserve it. But we proved great speed. Let’s go to the next race!”

And even Alexander Rossi admits that the next conversation with his actual friend Robert Wickens could be a bit chilly:”I will talk to him in good time and explain my feelings to him. He will certainly be disgruntled and he has every right to be disgruntled. If you lead the race until two laps before the end and then fail to finish, you’ll be annoyed, yes, but he doesn’t want to take the blame for the accident.