'Weeks or months' before full extent of Wickens' injuries known

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has revealed further details regarding the injuries sustained by Robert Wickens in the IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway last month, but a full diagnosis of his spinal cord injury could still be "weeks or months" away, according to his doctors.

Wickens was caught up in a multi-car incident on the opening lap of the Pocono race nearly two weeks ago that resulted in his car being thrown into the catch fencing at high-speed, sustaining multiple injuries in the process.

A previous update confirmed Wickens had been moved to a hospital in Indianapolis after undergoing multiple surgeries, with the latest bulletin being issued on Thursday evening confirming further details on his condition.

"Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens underwent surgeries this week at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to repair fractures to both of his legs and hands from injuries sustained in a crash during the INDYCAR event at Pocono Raceway on August 19. The surgeries were completed without complication," the statement reads.

"Wickens is expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation centre in the coming days to begin the recovery process. The severity of the spinal cord injury he sustained in the incident remains indeterminate and under evaluation. Physicians stress it could take weeks or months for the full effects of the injury to be known."

Among the details in the statement were some of the injuries sustained by Wickens, which included a thoracic spinal fracture, a neck fracture, tibia and fibula fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, his right forearm, and his elbow, four fractured ribs and a pulmonary contusion, as well as the aforementioned spinal cord injury.

"We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love, prayers and positive energy that has been sent out way since Robert's accident," said the Wickens family in a statement.

"We are blown away by the strength of this INDYCAR community and the support within it. While Robert's recovery and rehabilitation continue over the coming weeks and months, your loving messages will certainly be a source of encouragement for him.