IndyCar's Robert Wickens has titanium rods, screws inserted into spine during successful surgery

Jim Ayello | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption IndyStar's Jim Ayello breaks down Pocono race Motor sports reporter Jim Ayello discusses Robert Wickens' harrowing crash and Alexander Rossi's victory at Pocono Raceway. Aug. 19, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS — Titanium rods and screws were placed in IndyCar driver Robert Wickens' spine during surgery on Monday to stabilize a thoracic spinal fracture associated with a spinal cord injury sustained during a terrifying wreck at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.

While the surgery was successful, the severity of the spinal cord injury remains undetermined. According to an IndyCar news release, the 29-year-old Canadian driver is expected to undergo further surgeries to treat fractures in his lower extremities and right forearm. He remains in stable condition."

The horrifying crash kicked off Sunday’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway and resulted in Wickens being helicoptered to a local hospital.

The five-car crash he was involved in was undoubtedly among the scariest IndyCar has seen in years and a sobering reminder of the risks these drivers take every time they strap into the cockpit.

Insider: Robert Wickens can battle back from spinal injury suffered at Pocono

On just the sixth lap of the race, and the first green flag lap because on an incident at the start, the 29-year-old Canadian launched into the fence and went careening through the air after he attempted to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay. The two drivers’ cars touched causing Hunter-Reay’s car to crash into the wall and Wickens’ car to launch off Hunter-Reay into the air and slam first against the wall, then into the outer fence. After colliding with the fence, Wickens’ car twisted through the air before re-engaging the track and spitting fire into the air.

Debris from the wreck sprayed all over the track. Wickens’ car was decimated, as he was left sitting in nothing but his tub before medical personnel rushed to his assistance. Wickens was carefully extracted from his car, placed on a stretcher with a brace around his neck and taken by ambulance to a helicopter that flew him to the Allentown, Pa., hospital.