IndyCar driver Wickens set for surgery after sustaining multiple injuries in horrifying crash

IndyCar racer Robert Wickens is set to undergo emergency surgery after suffering numerous serious injuries in a terrifying crash during Sunday's ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. Wickens is reported to have broken both legs, as well as his right arm, while also suffering spinal injuries and a bruised lung after being pitched into the catch fence at high speed.

Wickens tagged wheels with the Andretti Autosport car of Ryan Hunter-Reay and went airborne into the perimeter wall before spinning violently back to the track via the fencing, which took two hours to be repaired.

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VIDEO: IndyCar driver Robert Wickens was taken by helicopter for medical treatment after a scary-violent wreck at the start of Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway. https://t.co/oYVxlwaL70 pic.twitter.com/PHy23OwkVu — NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) August 20, 2018

Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe, Pietro Fittipaldi and Takuma Sato were cleared to return to the track when racing resumed, having been collected by the incident.

However, Wickens had to be airlifted to hospital. IndyCar reported that he was "awake and alert" as he made his way to the medical facility.

A medical update on Robert Wickens: pic.twitter.com/8FSOg83Sup — Schmidt Peterson (@SPMIndyCar) August 20, 2018

"That's the worst thing you can see. He's hurt. He's awake and alert and at least he's alive," driver Sebastien Bourdais said.

Wickens has impressed in his debut IndyCar season and leads the rookie standings after taking four podiums in his first 14 races.

Alexander Rossi won the race, but was not in triumphant mood afterwards, telling NBC Sports: "It's tough to celebrate after what happened today."