MADISON, Ill. -- IndyCar driver Robert Wickens was breathing without medical assistance and began speaking with his family Saturday for the first time since his harrowing wreck at Pocono Raceway.
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports made the announcement shortly before the start of the IndyCar race at Gateway Motorsports Park. The team is only fielding James Hinchcliffe's car in Saturday night's race, though the No. 6 that Wickens would have driven this week was parked outside the haulers.
Many drivers, crew members and fans were wearing hats and stickers in Wickens' support.
The IndyCar rookie crashed early in last Sunday's race at Pocono, touching Ryan Hunter-Reay and hurtling into the catch fence.