Full extent of Wickens' injuries revealed

IndyCar driver Robert Wickens suffered fractures to both legs, his right arm and his spine in a violent crash at Pocono Speedway at the weekend, it has been revealed. The Canadian's Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team have withdrawn his car from this week's round at the Gateway Motorsports Park.

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

Wickens was "alert and awake" as he was airlifted to hospital and the full extent of his injuries has now been revealed.

"Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver Robert Wickens underwent surgery Monday, August 20 at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest to stabilise a thoracic spinal fracture associated with a spinal cord injury sustained during the IndyCar event at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, August 19," read an IndyCar statement.

"Titanium rods and screws were placed successfully in Wickens' spine during the surgery, which was performed without complication.

"The severity of the spinal cord injury is indeterminate at this time.

"Wickens is expected to undergo further surgeries to treat fractures in his lower extremities and right forearm. He remains in stable condition."

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