Canadian IndyCar driver Robert Wickens made his iRacing debut Saturday. It was his first form of racing since his crash at Pocono Raceway in 2018 in which he became paralyzed from the waist down.
Wickens tweeted out a behind-the-scenes video of him entering the simulator and the special steering wheel and handbrake lever he would use to control the car.
Today was a lot of fun! Happy with being in the top 10, can’t wait for next weekend. Here’s a little clip of how I get into my sim. Thanks again @SimCraft ! #INDYCARChallenge #iracing @ArrowMcLarenSP #indycar @IndyCar pic.twitter.com/jCjNJ1jMJR
— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) April 4, 2020
In an interview with ESPN Friday, Wickens said he's hoping this will help get him back into a real-life IndyCar.
"I always knew simulation was going to be the best way to try different handbrake or pedal configurations," Wickens said. "This is step one of 100 to get me back into the NTT IndyCar Series."
Wickens had a strong showing in the virtual race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, finishing the 45-lap race in eighth place.
A feel-good story for @RobertWickens.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 4, 2020
He's determined to get back in the real life @IndyCar Series, but hand controls have allowed him to compete against those drivers NOW in @iRacing! #INDYCARChallenge // NBCSN pic.twitter.com/VxLEDTSkVF
In a post-race interview with NBCSN, Wickens said it felt like the real thing racing in his simulator.
"I feel like I have an advantage on my competitors with the quality of sim I have at home so I'll take that in my pocket and keep working," Wickens said. "I'm just excited. In my first race in St. Petersburg two years ago, all I could think of was top-10 and I didn't get it so my return back, I got in the top-10 so I think it was a good day."
"It felt like the real thing."@RobertWickens scored a top-10 finish in his virtual return to @IndyCar racing. We caught up with him after the @iRacing #INDYCARChallenge. pic.twitter.com/OOhECTHvQw
— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) April 4, 2020
The next IndyCar iRacing event will be on April 11 at Michigan International Speedway.