IndyCar: Robert Wickens to return to the paddock at St. Petersburg

Robert Wickens is set to return to the IndyCar paddock for the first time since his massive accident last August at Pocono Raceway.

Since he was involved in a massive accident in the IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway last August that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Robert Wickens has not only not competed in another race, but he has not returned to the IndyCar paddock.

That is set to change this week, as the 29-year-old Canadian is set to return to the paddock for the 2019 season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, this Sunday, March 10.

Wickens is set to take part in the official IndyCar autograph session at 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, and he is set to take part in a meet and greet through Firestone at 10:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 10 before the race.

Wickens announced this great news on his Twitter account.

I’m coming to St. Petersburg!! I can’t wait to be back in the @indycar paddock. I’ll be doing a meet and greet Sunday at 10am at the firestone display in the fan village, as well as the indycar autograph session Friday at 12:30. I look forward to seeing everyone around the track! pic.twitter.com/chhS5n10hQ
— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) March 5, 2019

Last season, Wickens was the rookie driver of the #6 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, and he made his IndyCar debut in the 110-lap Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg around the 14-turn, 1.8-mile (2.897-kilometer) temporary street circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Wickens took the pole position for this race on his final lap of qualifying in the race’s final qualifying session, the Firestone Fast Six, and he went on to dominate it by leading 69 of its first 108 laps.

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Of the 39 of the first 108 laps that Wickens did not lead, 28 were led by Dale Coyne Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais, who did so as a result of the fact that he went on an alternate pit strategy, much like the one that he went on in the race back in 2017 that resulted in him winning it after starting in dead last (21st place).

But on the race’s final restart on lap 109, Wickens and Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi made contract with Rossi attempted to pass Wickens for the lead heading into turn one. Bourdais and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal ended up shooting to first and second place, respectively, while Rossi fell to third.

The race ended under the caution flag period that took place as a result of this crack, and Wickens was officially scored in 18th place.

Before he was involved in his accident in the 2018 season’s 14th race at Pocono Raceway, Wickens recorded four podium finishes, including two career-high second place finishes in the races at ISM Raceway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, three other top five finishes and three other top 10 finishes in 13 races through the season.

Wickens won the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award despite the fact that he missed the season’s final three races at Gateway Motorsports Park, Portland International Raceway and Sonoma Raceway as well as the fact that the season finale at Sonoma Raceway was a double points-paying race.

Former Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson is set to replace Wickens at Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports this season, but he is not technically set to serve as his replacement, as he is set to drive the #7 Honda while the #6 Honda remains on hold for Wickens for if and when he returns to IndyCar.

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NBC Sports Network is set to broadcast the 2019 IndyCar season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, live beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, March 10, so be sure not to miss it.