Wickens wins IndyCar rookie of the year title

Wickens wins RoY but we are sure he would prefer not to be sitting in a hospital with a broken back, legs and arm. Fix the catch-fences IndyCar!

Robert Wickens has secured the Sunoco rookie of the year honors for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series with one race remaining in the championship. The Canadian is now unable to be caught by his rivals in the rookie of the year standings, despite having missed the last few races due to injuries sustained in his heavy crash at Pocono Raceway.

Upon hearing the news that Wickens had secured the 2018 Sunoco rookie of the year honor, his team, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, released a statement congratulating their driver for his outstanding results this year and to further affirm that they would be ready to have him back in one of their cars as soon as he was fit to return.

“When Robert joined this team, we had the highest expectations set for him to achieve," the team’s statement read. “Having Robert clinch the Sunoco Rookie of the Year with one race left on the 2018 calendar after missing the last three races, it’s just a testament to how hard he’s worked this season to set him up for a strong finish. The dedication, effort and energy he puts into his race craft, working with the team and his teammates, and all the above-and-beyond work he’s put in with our partners and the fans, we couldn’t ask for a better addition.

“We are proud of all that Robert has achieved this season, and we look forward to welcoming him back upon his full recovery. The No. 6 entry will be there waiting for him whenever he’s ready."

In Robert’s absence, SPM has drafted Carlos Munoz to be the substitute driver of the #6 Honda. Munoz raced to twelfth place on his return at Portland and will be looking to finish strongly in the final race at Sonoma.