You can see Dale's emotions coming through on his face and in his breathing. When Mike Davis is quiet and not asking stupid questions, you know it's a remarkable interview. What an amazing human. Great job Dillner
@@robertsklenka5823 Exactly! I think the pair are what makes this podcast so much more enjoyable. They create a unique dynamic. Also, Mike isn't afraid to just tell Jr., "I disagree, and here's why..." and Jr. respects his opinions even when they're at odds about a certain issue.
The fact Robert can joke about his ring finger after a devastating accident like that shows the kind of man he is. I want nothing but good things for him going forward and someday I hope to see him back in a race car. Incredible what he is able to do
You can tell how horrified both Dale and Mike are once Robert started talking about just how the racecar and the accident broke him. Then he talked about his family and how it affected them. You can tell it was a very somber moment.
When I saw that crash live on TV, I thought we just saw just 2 cars crashing on the outside wall in Turn 2 on Ryan Hunter-Reay’s onboard view. Just a normal accident. But when they cut that view and showed Wickens in the outdated catch fence, I was terrified and screaming. I thought saw my first ever racing fatal crash live… thankfully, it was not fatal. It’s still amazing that Robert Wickens is with us to this day!
What a powerful interview and a powerful man. My hat is off to you Robert, your family and everyone that supports you. And the determination to not let that crash dictate your life!
This man inspires me to walk again, in September of 2020 I had a doctor give me a couple of shots in my right ankle, he ended up causing me to develop a staph infection that turned into me becoming septic, I died and they brought me back but I was only given a 5% chance of surviving this because of my organs shutting down and that my blood was so toxic from the infection, I ended up losing my right leg below the knee and ever since then I have been through struggle after struggle after struggle. I can not afford a prosthetic leg and I am stuck either being in my wheelchair, crawling on the floor, or using my IWALK that has broken on me countless times to the point that I had to use JB WELD plastic bonder to fix it. I can't work, my truck is broken down because of the flywheel exploding on me, and I'm barely getting by financially because my wife is also disabled from a botched spinal surgery. Robert and countless other people who have endured worse circumstances and refuse to just settle for the doctors prognosis are my heroes. Honestly I'm a really prideful and stubborn man that never ask for absolutely no help since I had seven surgeries and only wants to be able to walk again is wondering if anybody out here in YT land know of organizations who are there to help amputees that have no health insurance and are receiving peanuts for disability payments to help me aquire a leg? If so, please just drop it on a reply please and thank you for reading my long winded story about a peg legged man wanting to taste a tiny piece of my life back again.
I have zero problems after reading your story. Thanks for being long winded and I will have you in my prayers. To those that don’t believe in prayer do something more for this man please!
Landon my wife used to work for a wheelchair company that produced lightweight high performance wheelchairs like the one Robert uses. She is no longer in the durable medical equipment field but I will show her your comment and ask her to point me in the right direction. I don't know but I have to believe that there are resources out there for you. Stay stubborn and strive to do what they say you can't do. Start a GoFundMe and post a link to it on this video. I will contribute. I have to believe others will as well.
I can’t help you directly, but I hope you can focus on living and continuing even with your struggles. Life in itself is so precious, and I’m sure you know that. I hope that even though you’ve had a terrible thing happen you, you can appreciate the things that others will never be able to see, hear or experience. Best of luck to you, never give up, and appreciate beautiful days!
I’ve felt remarkable respect for a lot of drivers who have fought their way back through injuries. Hitch is a good example of this. But Wickens?… I cannot think of a single soul if developed more respect for or a deeper respect for than Robert Wickens. My God, what he survived, and what he’s battled through? I’m almost at a loss for words. He had ‘seemingly’ come from nowhere to the casual fan. He had entered into the IndyCar scene and almost immediately looked like a veteran. He had THAT level of obvious talent. And a short time later, he was fighting for his life. The Lord must have something truly special in mind for Robert to do in this life. I hope his future contains no negatives… because he’s faced a few life-fuls already. Be well & God bless, Mr Wickens. 👏🏼🫡
Amen I prayed every second after watching live, as soon as he got up into the catch fence I always assume it’s never good. But thank God we still have him and his family has him more than anything. See kid’s? We do have athletes you can actually look up to proudly. Take care everyone ✌️👍🙏🏻
Wickens was on his way to becoming an IndyCar star when the accident happened. He and his teammate at the time James Hinchcliffe had raced against each other in go carts in Canada growing up and was behind him getting a shot with SPM. He's an inspiration to come back from such serious injuries to race again.
Dale, yet again, maneuvers through a delicate, emotionally charged interview with grace, reserve, compassion, and true care and concern for Robert. Dale stands atop the hill for his interviewing skills. My most sincere prayers go out to Robert Wickens. I had a neighbor, across the street, (small town in Niagara County, NY) who was 3 years older than me, who got paralyzed, waist down, from a car accident when he was 17, in 1984. I'll never forget that day, or all the ones before it, when the 7-10 neighborhood kids would play softball in the field, or hide and seek till all the parents were yelling out, "Time to come home". He went on to become a successful physical therapist, and ended up in Seattle. 27 years after that first accident, he crashed and rolled his van, which he drove with hand controls, and broke his neck and died. Please please please be careful driving people. Please take driving seriously. We take so much for granted. Tomorrow is NOT promised, not one of us knows if, when we leave our homes each day, if we will be making it back into our beds each night. God Bless everyone!
Sean Hannity could learn a lesson from this. Ask the question, shut up, listen, and follow-up as needed. Junior has developed into a hell of an interviewer.
I can relate to what Robert said about not understanding how he sustained such devastating injuries. I found myself going back to Katherine Legg's violent crash at Road America and she walked away without a scratch. Racing can be so relentlessly cruel, but I am so very grateful that Robert survived.
I 100% get that too. When he was saying that I thought of Austin Dillon's NASCAR crash, and he walked away, and he was hit a few times as well as hitting the fence. And if that fence pole hit another inch or two either way, and missed the titanium ring, it could've been even worse.
Legge going in back-end first at an angle is probably what kept her from getting hurt. Instead of instantly stopping, her car was able to shed speed and keep her from getting hurt. Still an incredibly scary wreck.
Seeing Robert race in the Pilot Challenge has brought me to tears. My dad was born with a disability that restricts his mobility, and seeing someone be able to come back from an injury that took from him walking like most of us makes me appreciate the strength of my dad even more. We are privileged to see someone so smart and so strong. Never take for granted what you have. On a lighter note, my dad also broke his 5th metacarpal on the right hand once, and it delayed our vacation plans. Not a fun bone to break, but not the end of the world. He looked like a proper gentleman when he drank his morning cup of coffee.
Coming from someone who’s mother was paralyzed in a hospital accident. Just watching the crash shakes me up. I’m so glad he came out relatively okay. I can’t imagine the effect it’s had on his life but watching him race now makes me so excited and I get to show my mom what she could be able to do even though she’s not into racing but that’s there’s more out there than sitting around the house for her.
@@joshuapowers4623 I’m talking about when Dale Jr does his short commercials at the end of his videos. It was very respectful for the Dirty Mo channel to not show it after this heartbreaking story. That’s all. By the way, I pay a few bucks a month to NOT be shown TH-cam ads! Everyone should. Well worth the money.
I was there that Sunday, watching his car passing cars on the outside. We hung out Saturday afternoon beside the NBC sports cameras. Robert was friendly, talkative and so focused.
What an intense and powerful interview. I have never been so emotional watching one of these. I know they're trying to let him tell his story but I've never seen Dale and Mike so speechless. They both seemed visibly upset acouple of times. Im so glad to finally get to hear his story. I live only about 45 mins from his hometown and I remember watching and cheering him on that season and even that race when he was making that move. Such a horrible accident but I'm glad he survived to tell his story.
I remember that day so clearly. We had family over and were enjoying a day swimming and grilling, watching the race in the backyard. When this happened it changed our day and my kids day as one of them is a big Robert Wickens fan. This was their first awareness of why racing is so revered and the risks these guys take. As much as things changed that day for us, we were crushed for Robert and his family. We’re obviously so happy he’s been able to recover tot he point he has and continue living although his life has been altered in an unimaginable way. This whole thing still just gives me chills. I can’t imagine what Robert has dealt with over that time.
I find it amazing how racers and fans try to understand these crashes. We try to talk it through or away, but really we are lucky it doesn't happen more often with all the elements involved. Great podcast.
Robert Im just glad to see you here and see how far you've become. See your talking. Being in a wheelchair not being able to walk again would be my biggest struggle
Robert is such an inspiration on determination, resilience, perseverance, courage, and strength. We were watching the race on tv that day. My heart broke for him and was afraid for him. I’m so happy to see him doing so well.
I was there in the stands at Pocono the day Robert got hurt and a couple years before when Justin Wilson died. I sat there waiting for them to fix the fence figuring that was it for IRL at Pocono and feeling bad that I never saw Robert even turn a lap. You could tell Robert’s wreck was a real bad one just from the way his car shredded, and that was from a mile away. I’m really glad Dale had Robert on to get to know who he is.
Trauma like that is so hard to go through for the patient. There will be always questions that will never be answered by time or anyone and the sooner you can get over that and any depression and start the process of recovery the better. It's always a long haul and never fast enough which is ok but it always takes a special person to push the patient forward and overcome. Thanks for the care of the docs and nurses but especially for the wives and their love during the process. Been there and my prayers go out to both.
Wow! I know exactly where I was when I saw that awful crash! Robert is a hero and what a great attitude for all that he has been through! Thanks Junior & Mike for including IndyCar in your podcasts...that means a lot! I have a feeling that Robert will be back in some way or another!
As a fellow Canadian, I clearly remember seeing the race, and I’m pleased to see how you’ve handled it like a real man. Thoughts are with you and your family as you continually navigate through your new life❤️👍💪 Excellent interview btw
Thanks so much for bringing Robert on I was so fired up when he came on the seen I was an immediate fan he showed so much promise and his style and you knew he was headed towards the front and then be crushed to see this happen but I thank God you have made it this far back
What a story! He's lucky to be sharing that story with others. Robert mentions the Dixon crash, and I haven't heard the whole conversation, but nothing about Dan Wheldon in Vegas. Another catchfence incident but with a very different outcome. If the crash that was walked away from is talked about, then the other side must be talked about as well.
Back in the 90's my wife used to work for a wheelchair company that produced lightweight high performance wheelchairs like the one Robert uses. She was a product manager and worked with world class athletes who ended up in chairs and continued to compete as para athletes. The people deal with incredible hurdles every day the likes of which able bodied people can't imagine. Our friend circle includes/included Paralympians, Us open tennis champions, hand powered world record holders. The same drive that got Robert into the IndyCar has gotten him back in the sports car. What he has done since his injury is as impressive, maybe more, as before he was injured.
Thanks so much...I will never forget that accident as long as I love. I have tried to keep up with his rehab . I am so thankful that Robert was able to do this interview
This podcast and the day in nascar about the 2001 Daytona 500 are some of the best ever made about the knife-edge that all pro racing drivers live on. Doesn't argue good or bad but simply shows the highs and lows of racing.
Great Interview Dale I watched the crash live my heart just dropped i remembered darios crash from housten get well soon mate hope too see you behind the wheel
When I saw the crash, the part that stayed with me was how fast the car changed direction. He was launched going 212 mph in one direction, and the same instant he'd completely changed directions and was spinning. The car broke apart as it was supposed to, but the human body just wasn't designed for that. No matter how safe the car, the G-forces alone can do you in. Just the fact that he's able to talk about it is a miracle -- never mind the fact that he's back to racing. Somebody was definitely looking out for Robbie that day.
His spine broke from the slam back to the pavement. Same with Aric Almirola at Kansas. Ricky Craven at Talladega. List goes on. It definitely didn't help that the fence grabbed him that viciously and had him spinning on impact. He certainly didn't land flat bottom side in the seat. I wish he could come back. He had talent.
@@NewWorldCT in regards to slamming the pavement while that was theorized and investigated, nothing came of it and at 9:10 wickens says the spinning caused the spinal injuries
@@AlistairMaxwell77 Yeah, dawg. His seriousness of his injury is from the spinning. His spine SNAPPED at the landing. It was had inertial spin while CRASHING to the earth. His back was completely broken on impact, though.
@@NewWorldCT interesting , got any links for this info? seriously cause what i have read fia/indycar discounted the bottom impact and investigating safety improvements for the bottom of the car
"Drivers are selfish"... so very true. Like drivers, many of us love racing as spectators and that too is selfish in a sense. WE want the thrill of speed that costs us nothing but the price of a ticket. WE selfishly demand competitive racing in incredible vehicles that can, in an instant, claim or forever alter lives. A thought from a 70-year-old who has loved racing since going to a dirt track near Bryan, Ohio in the late 1950s.... Danger, experienced first hand or vicariously is nothing less than a drug that can be addictive.
Its a great podcast... and yes Dale, as a race car driver, can feel this drivers pain and suffering... and believe this could have happened to me... and yes Dale has has a serious head injury... so for him the pain is real.... no person unless directly experienced can feel what its like to have a serious injury... or how can someone feel what it's like to get a cancer diagnoses unless they have had it happen to them... people think they know what it like and bless them for trying... but when this level of injury or news... your whole world falls apart... and nothing prepares you for this...
The section and angle of Robert’s car that hit the fence pole is what paralyzed him. His body - bones, organs, etc - absorbed all the kinetic energy when the impact made him go from 200+ to 0 mph in less than a second in the sideways position. But thank God he’s alive. Kenny Brack hit the pole with the nose cone of his car at Texas and it shattered both of his feet into pieces. The Indycar doctors picked up pieces of his feet from the track to put him back together at the hospital he said, and it almost made him paralyzed as well…. His spinal cord came out of its space. Discovery channel did a special on it and how surgeons were able to repair his spine. Similarly, Dan Wheldon hit the fence pole with his helmet in Las Vegas 😢 and he didn’t live to tell the story. I’m glad Robert survived and is able to tell the story and move forward even if he’s paralyzed. He’s going to go do great things because he’s a great person. Life is worth living and he obviously has a great attitude although I’m sure it’s tough to stay positive. One day at a time!
When Wickens came in to IndyCar in 2018, he (as a rookie) lit it on fire more than anyone since maybe Montoya in 1999 or Zanardi or Moore in 1996. Like just you knew he was gonna be a big star.
Go Robert, everyone is cheering for you to keep kicking ass and win races. Update: Wickens is the 2023 Michelin Pilot Series TCR class champion this past Friday. Congrats Robert on your well deserved championship.
I fell off a scaffold in 2013 and landed in the hospital for 2 months. My injuries were nowhere near what Robert endured, but it is only by the grace and mercy of GOD that I can walk.
When an Indycar goes into the fence, it's a crapshoot. Both Kenny Brack and Ryan Briscoe took wild rides that looked worse than Wickens'. They both had extensive injuries (especially Brack), but avoided paralysis. On the other hand, Dan Wheldon didn't survive his accident in Las Vegas. I'm glad to see that Wickens has such a good attitude toward his future, and I wouldn't count him out of further racing.
I really enjoyed watching him race and was watching the race live. I usually don’t react to crashes the way I did that day because of the severity of it (going from speed to the slowing of momentum when he hit the pole). I called my dad and said, “There was a terrible wreck in the Pocono race. I think I just watched Wickens die…”
Must admit Jr. has provided a great forum for discussion’s like this. The fence spins are the worst, Bobby Allison at Talladega damn near killed him too. A lot of bad wrecks at Watkins Glen too. It is impressive Robert and others make these recoveries.
Actually, Bobby Allison was uninjured after his crash at Talladega, which was somewhat remarkable, if for no other reason than his car was hit a couple of times after it bounced off the catchfencing. But the one where he nearly lost his life happened in the exact spot where Wickens' crash took place, as well as where Davey Allison's horrifying crash in 1992 took place, as well where as Dave Marcis' horrendous crash in 1999 happened.
Was at this race and can say seeing it live from the stands it did not look pretty. I've been to easily over 100 different races at Pocono (Indy, NASCAR cup, Xfinity, trucks, and arca) and can say I've never seen a wreck like that before in person. God bless this man for having a strong will.
We men are crazy when it comes to accomplishing what we set out to do. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to jump back in the machine that basically destroyed your body. Words can't express the amount of respect i have for this man. I hope he can end his driving career when he is ready to.
6:15 Here's the explanation of Wickens' crash by a guy that has watched way too many crashes and has read about way too many injuries too As seen on 5:25, the biggest impact is probably the one the side/underside gets before clearing the wall. He goes from 200mph (you always lose speed whenever you spin) to like 100mph in a way that racecars aren't prepared to deal with. He didn't hit the fence with the nose or just the side and you never want the underside to get involved plus humans in racecars HATE lateral impacts. With the wall cleared, the nose starts to get torn apart by the fence before 2 very solid objects meet at speed: the survival cell and one of the main poles of the catchfence (they have a big strong one every few smaller weaker ones). Now we're getting into "combo" territory, another thing the human body hates. From there, the car is sent into a very fast spin and probably hits a 2nd strong pole before the cockpit is thrown back into the racetrack. If I had to guess, he probably got disabled with the initial impact, brain got specially screwed with the 2nd one (the combo thing I mentioned) and most of the bones are probably because of the 1st one too.
What's unfortunate about this...as a local to Pocono...is that the track has always been unsafe. They tried an exhibition match race back in the 70s I think with Garlits and Muldowny and there was a "dip" on the main straight. When both drivers made their test runs they immediately pulled out refusing to run. Adding insult to injury, the Mattiolis refused to refund the ticket sales. History goes on from there with crashes and incidents that not only ended careers, but lives too as speeds climbed throughout the years. Place is bad news...
I was at this race and I thought for sure he was killed. Remarkable journey Robert has been through to get back into a race car and do what he loves to do.
This is a big deal. Most drivers live/operate in a world of denial. "It won't happen to me. It will happen to someone else" For Dale to confront this head on with Robert is huge. The machine whether it be a stock car, Indy car ,sprint car ,midget, funny car ,top fuel dragster ,airplane whatever type racing machine it might be, has no soul. When the driver and machine become one ,it IS alive. A convergence you might say. Sometimes that convergence ,maims or kills. It is the reality of what they do. For these guys to sit and talk about this out in the open is honesty on a completely different level. Dale knows all too well the price that can be paid for the convergence. I am sure this was pretty difficult for him. I'm glad he had the balls to do it. I thank Robert Wickens for sharing his story as well.
He disappears in the car after the impact, you can't even see his helmet after he gets back on the ground after the wreck...wtf? I'm happy for him and admire his fight!
You can see Dalejr is struggling to read Roberts list of injuries... Robert is a walking miracle . The question is why were IndyCars ever on that track ?
because a segment of the fanbase is still stuck in the 90's and insist on a 2nd 500 mile race and pocono is the only track IC could do it at since michigan is a ISC track that people stopped coming to for indycar.
@@xSoccerxCorex Pocono raced Indycars for several years before NASCAR began running there in 1974. The design of the fencing is the issue, like Las Vegas that took Dan Weldon's life, it just tears these cars apart. Roger Penske owns the Indycar series now, so maybe all those fans who left can be drawn back. It's going to take a while but The Captain won't have them race any place where nobody shows up.
You can see Dale's emotions coming through on his face and in his breathing. When Mike Davis is quiet and not asking stupid questions, you know it's a remarkable interview. What an amazing human. Great job Dillner
Those questions that Mike asks completes the interview. Dales asks the real important ones Mike takes care of the more human side.
Mike blows.
0
Dale, yet again, maneuvers through a delicate, emotionally charged interview with grace, reserve, compassion, and true care and concern for Robert.
@@robertsklenka5823 Exactly! I think the pair are what makes this podcast so much more enjoyable. They create a unique dynamic. Also, Mike isn't afraid to just tell Jr., "I disagree, and here's why..." and Jr. respects his opinions even when they're at odds about a certain issue.
The fact Robert can joke about his ring finger after a devastating accident like that shows the kind of man he is. I want nothing but good things for him going forward and someday I hope to see him back in a race car. Incredible what he is able to do
he did run sportscars, not sure if he still is, but he came back!
You can tell how horrified both Dale and Mike are once Robert started talking about just how the racecar and the accident broke him. Then he talked about his family and how it affected them. You can tell it was a very somber moment.
Dale, yet again, maneuvers through a delicate, emotionally charged interview with grace, reserve, compassion, and true care and concern for Robert.
When I saw that crash live on TV, I thought we just saw just 2 cars crashing on the outside wall in Turn 2 on Ryan Hunter-Reay’s onboard view. Just a normal accident. But when they cut that view and showed Wickens in the outdated catch fence, I was terrified and screaming. I thought saw my first ever racing fatal crash live… thankfully, it was not fatal. It’s still amazing that Robert Wickens is with us to this day!
Had that exact feeling. It’s great to see him alive let alone racing again
Same here but I still can't watch them race at any 'flat' track. I don't want to say that I watched someone die.
I remember your reaction
@@crouchb15 me too
OH MY GOODNESS ROBERT WICKENS or something close to that
What a powerful interview and a powerful man. My hat is off to you Robert, your family and everyone that supports you. And the determination to not let that crash dictate your life!
This man inspires me to walk again, in September of 2020 I had a doctor give me a couple of shots in my right ankle, he ended up causing me to develop a staph infection that turned into me becoming septic, I died and they brought me back but I was only given a 5% chance of surviving this because of my organs shutting down and that my blood was so toxic from the infection, I ended up losing my right leg below the knee and ever since then I have been through struggle after struggle after struggle. I can not afford a prosthetic leg and I am stuck either being in my wheelchair, crawling on the floor, or using my IWALK that has broken on me countless times to the point that I had to use JB WELD plastic bonder to fix it. I can't work, my truck is broken down because of the flywheel exploding on me, and I'm barely getting by financially because my wife is also disabled from a botched spinal surgery. Robert and countless other people who have endured worse circumstances and refuse to just settle for the doctors prognosis are my heroes. Honestly I'm a really prideful and stubborn man that never ask for absolutely no help since I had seven surgeries and only wants to be able to walk again is wondering if anybody out here in YT land know of organizations who are there to help amputees that have no health insurance and are receiving peanuts for disability payments to help me aquire a leg? If so, please just drop it on a reply please and thank you for reading my long winded story about a peg legged man wanting to taste a tiny piece of my life back again.
I have zero problems after reading your story.
Thanks for being long winded and I will have you in my prayers.
To those that don’t believe in prayer do something more for this man please!
Good luck brah
Landon my wife used to work for a wheelchair company that produced lightweight high performance wheelchairs like the one Robert uses. She is no longer in the durable medical equipment field but I will show her your comment and ask her to point me in the right direction. I don't know but I have to believe that there are resources out there for you. Stay stubborn and strive to do what they say you can't do. Start a GoFundMe and post a link to it on this video. I will contribute. I have to believe others will as well.
I can’t help you directly, but I hope you can focus on living and continuing even with your struggles. Life in itself is so precious, and I’m sure you know that. I hope that even though you’ve had a terrible thing happen you, you can appreciate the things that others will never be able to see, hear or experience. Best of luck to you, never give up, and appreciate beautiful days!
Very best wishes as you take the challenges 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I’ve felt remarkable respect for a lot of drivers who have fought their way back through injuries. Hitch is a good example of this. But Wickens?… I cannot think of a single soul if developed more respect for or a deeper respect for than Robert Wickens. My God, what he survived, and what he’s battled through? I’m almost at a loss for words. He had ‘seemingly’ come from nowhere to the casual fan. He had entered into the IndyCar scene and almost immediately looked like a veteran. He had THAT level of obvious talent. And a short time later, he was fighting for his life.
The Lord must have something truly special in mind for Robert to do in this life. I hope his future contains no negatives… because he’s faced a few life-fuls already. Be well & God bless, Mr Wickens. 👏🏼🫡
It's a miracle that he survived
Yes it is
Amen I prayed every second after watching live, as soon as he got up into the catch fence I always assume it’s never good. But thank God we still have him and his family has him more than anything. See kid’s? We do have athletes you can actually look up to proudly. Take care everyone ✌️👍🙏🏻
Testament to modern safety crew training and medical science. This man most likely dies if this happens in 1930 ....
I was watching this race on T.V and when he went airborne I'm like not another one cause weldons crash was still fresh in my mind
Wickens was on his way to becoming an IndyCar star when the accident happened. He and his teammate at the time James Hinchcliffe had raced against each other in go carts in Canada growing up and was behind him getting a shot with SPM. He's an inspiration to come back from such serious injuries to race again.
Dale, yet again, maneuvers through a delicate, emotionally charged interview with grace, reserve, compassion, and true care and concern for Robert. Dale stands atop the hill for his interviewing skills. My most sincere prayers go out to Robert Wickens.
I had a neighbor, across the street, (small town in Niagara County, NY) who was 3 years older than me, who got paralyzed, waist down, from a car accident when he was 17, in 1984. I'll never forget that day, or all the ones before it, when the 7-10 neighborhood kids would play softball in the field, or hide and seek till all the parents were yelling out, "Time to come home".
He went on to become a successful physical therapist, and ended up in Seattle. 27 years after that first accident, he crashed and rolled his van, which he drove with hand controls, and broke his neck and died. Please please please be careful driving people. Please take driving seriously. We take so much for granted. Tomorrow is NOT promised, not one of us knows if, when we leave our homes each day, if we will be making it back into our beds each night. God Bless everyone!
Sean Hannity could learn a lesson from this. Ask the question, shut up, listen, and follow-up as needed. Junior has developed into a hell of an interviewer.
I was actually at the race when this accident happened and it is heart stopping. Thank goodness he is doing much better from when he was.
I can relate to what Robert said about not understanding how he sustained such devastating injuries. I found myself going back to Katherine Legg's violent crash at Road America and she walked away without a scratch. Racing can be so relentlessly cruel, but I am so very grateful that Robert survived.
She was incredibly lucky. That was a horrible crash. It’s a shame Robert wasn’t so lucky.
The G forces involved are incomprehensible.
I 100% get that too. When he was saying that I thought of Austin Dillon's NASCAR crash, and he walked away, and he was hit a few times as well as hitting the fence.
And if that fence pole hit another inch or two either way, and missed the titanium ring, it could've been even worse.
Legge going in back-end first at an angle is probably what kept her from getting hurt. Instead of instantly stopping, her car was able to shed speed and keep her from getting hurt. Still an incredibly scary wreck.
Road America is also a much slower circuit. She was probably going around 160 mph after her car spun around.
Seeing Robert race in the Pilot Challenge has brought me to tears. My dad was born with a disability that restricts his mobility, and seeing someone be able to come back from an injury that took from him walking like most of us makes me appreciate the strength of my dad even more. We are privileged to see someone so smart and so strong. Never take for granted what you have. On a lighter note, my dad also broke his 5th metacarpal on the right hand once, and it delayed our vacation plans. Not a fun bone to break, but not the end of the world. He looked like a proper gentleman when he drank his morning cup of coffee.
I met him at indy last year at the imsa weekend and got a picture with him and he is an amazing person in person
I have never been more inspired
Coming from someone who’s mother was paralyzed in a hospital accident. Just watching the crash shakes me up. I’m so glad he came out relatively okay. I can’t imagine the effect it’s had on his life but watching him race now makes me so excited and I get to show my mom what she could be able to do even though she’s not into racing but that’s there’s more out there than sitting around the house for her.
So sad what happened Robert Wickens was having such a stellar year and had a bright future in indycar ahead of him
Thank you for the ending of this video (no sudden change to a happy-sounding commercial). What an amazing man. Incredible story. Thanks for sharing.
What do you mean exactly? They do get to chose the ads TH-cam puts on videos, or where they're placed. And they aren't the same ads for every view.
@@joshuapowers4623 I’m talking about when Dale Jr does his short commercials at the end of his videos. It was very respectful for the Dirty Mo channel to not show it after this heartbreaking story. That’s all.
By the way, I pay a few bucks a month to NOT be shown TH-cam ads! Everyone should. Well worth the money.
@@CharleyClose Ad block is a thing.
I was there that Sunday, watching his car passing cars on the outside. We hung out Saturday afternoon beside the NBC sports cameras. Robert was friendly, talkative and so focused.
What an intense and powerful interview. I have never been so emotional watching one of these. I know they're trying to let him tell his story but I've never seen Dale and Mike so speechless. They both seemed visibly upset acouple of times. Im so glad to finally get to hear his story. I live only about 45 mins from his hometown and I remember watching and cheering him on that season and even that race when he was making that move. Such a horrible accident but I'm glad he survived to tell his story.
Thats one determined young man. Thank you to him for sharing this. Bad ass for sure
What a hell of a guy. Great attitude after going through a horrific thing. Look up to Robert kids.
I remember that day so clearly. We had family over and were enjoying a day swimming and grilling, watching the race in the backyard. When this happened it changed our day and my kids day as one of them is a big Robert Wickens fan. This was their first awareness of why racing is so revered and the risks these guys take. As much as things changed that day for us, we were crushed for Robert and his family. We’re obviously so happy he’s been able to recover tot he point he has and continue living although his life has been altered in an unimaginable way. This whole thing still just gives me chills. I can’t imagine what Robert has dealt with over that time.
Robert Wickens is an amazing person and a heck of an athlete and inspiration.
Dude is beast!! What an inspiration. He’s one of the most sincere people I’ve ever seen.
I find it amazing how racers and fans try to understand these crashes. We try to talk it through or away, but really we are lucky it doesn't happen more often with all the elements involved. Great podcast.
Robert Im just glad to see you here and see how far you've become. See your talking. Being in a wheelchair not being able to walk again would be my biggest struggle
Robert is such an inspiration on determination, resilience, perseverance, courage, and strength. We were watching the race on tv that day. My heart broke for him and was afraid for him. I’m so happy to see him doing so well.
Great interview Mr. Earnhardt.
Heart of a survivor.
Seems like a really nice guy, happy to see him whenever he posts. Strong doesn't begin to describe Robert. What a human being
I was there in the stands at Pocono the day Robert got hurt and a couple years before when Justin Wilson died. I sat there waiting for them to fix the fence figuring that was it for IRL at Pocono and feeling bad that I never saw Robert even turn a lap. You could tell Robert’s wreck was a real bad one just from the way his car shredded, and that was from a mile away. I’m really glad Dale had Robert on to get to know who he is.
Trauma like that is so hard to go through for the patient. There will be always questions that will never be answered by time or anyone and the sooner you can get over that and any depression and start the process of recovery the better. It's always a long haul and never fast enough which is ok but it always takes a special person to push the patient forward and overcome. Thanks for the care of the docs and nurses but especially for the wives and their love during the process. Been there and my prayers go out to both.
Wow! I know exactly where I was when I saw that awful crash! Robert is a hero and what a great attitude for all that he has been through! Thanks Junior & Mike for including IndyCar in your podcasts...that means a lot! I have a feeling that Robert will be back in some way or another!
Yea, def shows Dale considers it a RACING podcast, not just a Nascar podcast. Actually he has, and does cover, many motorsports.
God Bless you, and you are an absolute inspiration!!
As a fellow Canadian, I clearly remember seeing the race, and I’m pleased to see how you’ve handled it like a real man.
Thoughts are with you and your family as you continually navigate through your new life❤️👍💪
Excellent interview btw
An awesome person and another incredible interview by Dale.
Thanks so much for bringing Robert on I was so fired up when he came on the seen I was an immediate fan he showed so much promise and his style and you knew he was headed towards the front and then be crushed to see this happen but I thank God you have made it this far back
What a story! He's lucky to be sharing that story with others. Robert mentions the Dixon crash, and I haven't heard the whole conversation, but nothing about Dan Wheldon in Vegas. Another catchfence incident but with a very different outcome. If the crash that was walked away from is talked about, then the other side must be talked about as well.
What an amazing interview. Hats off to you all for putting together this amazing podcast.
Back in the 90's my wife used to work for a wheelchair company that produced lightweight high performance wheelchairs like the one Robert uses. She was a product manager and worked with world class athletes who ended up in chairs and continued to compete as para athletes. The people deal with incredible hurdles every day the likes of which able bodied people can't imagine. Our friend circle includes/included Paralympians, Us open tennis champions, hand powered world record holders. The same drive that got Robert into the IndyCar has gotten him back in the sports car. What he has done since his injury is as impressive, maybe more, as before he was injured.
Thanks so much...I will never forget that accident as long as I love. I have tried to keep up with his rehab . I am so thankful that Robert was able to do this interview
Wickens was totally my favorite driver, you are the man!
When I attended that race in 2018, I was worried that Robert Wickens would’ve been dead but I’m so thankful that this guy survived the crash.
This podcast and the day in nascar about the 2001 Daytona 500 are some of the best ever made about the knife-edge that all pro racing drivers live on. Doesn't argue good or bad but simply shows the highs and lows of racing.
Great Interview Dale
I watched the crash live my heart just dropped i remembered darios crash from housten
get well soon mate hope too see you behind the wheel
Thanks For Uploading ☺😎 I'm Really Speechless About Robert Wickens
Modern day miracle.. ..
Big fan here... godspeed
Rip Justin Wilson
Man robert…. I watched that live…. I wish you good fortune for the rest of your life
God bless that young man he still alive so that’s always good
When I saw the crash, the part that stayed with me was how fast the car changed direction. He was launched going 212 mph in one direction, and the same instant he'd completely changed directions and was spinning. The car broke apart as it was supposed to, but the human body just wasn't designed for that. No matter how safe the car, the G-forces alone can do you in. Just the fact that he's able to talk about it is a miracle -- never mind the fact that he's back to racing. Somebody was definitely looking out for Robbie that day.
His spine broke from the slam back to the pavement. Same with Aric Almirola at Kansas. Ricky Craven at Talladega. List goes on. It definitely didn't help that the fence grabbed him that viciously and had him spinning on impact. He certainly didn't land flat bottom side in the seat.
I wish he could come back. He had talent.
I wouldn't wish that apon someone I really didn't care about he's one hell of a man
@@NewWorldCT in regards to slamming the pavement while that was theorized and investigated, nothing came of it and at 9:10 wickens says the spinning caused the spinal injuries
@@AlistairMaxwell77 Yeah, dawg. His seriousness of his injury is from the spinning. His spine SNAPPED at the landing. It was had inertial spin while CRASHING to the earth. His back was completely broken on impact, though.
@@NewWorldCT interesting , got any links for this info? seriously cause what i have read fia/indycar discounted the bottom impact and investigating safety improvements for the bottom of the car
Incredible story, inspirational stuff. 🤗🤗
"Drivers are selfish"... so very true. Like drivers, many of us love racing as spectators and that too is selfish in a sense. WE want the thrill of speed that costs us nothing but the price of a ticket. WE selfishly demand competitive racing in incredible vehicles that can, in an instant, claim or forever alter lives. A thought from a 70-year-old who has loved racing since going to a dirt track near Bryan, Ohio in the late 1950s.... Danger, experienced first hand or vicariously is nothing less than a drug that can be addictive.
Hay Dale I hope you and your family have an grate weekend
Mr Robert Wickens! I am very happy you are alright!!!!! Please Stay Safe Sir!!!
Robby Wickens, a true inspiration.
god bless him. I remember him making moves, a Canadian Kid we needed to root for. He survived a wreck that a person dont survive it.
Its a great podcast... and yes Dale, as a race car driver, can feel this drivers pain and suffering... and believe this could have happened to me... and yes Dale has has a serious head injury... so for him the pain is real.... no person unless directly experienced can feel what its like to have a serious injury... or how can someone feel what it's like to get a cancer diagnoses unless they have had it happen to them... people think they know what it like and bless them for trying... but when this level of injury or news... your whole world falls apart... and nothing prepares you for this...
The section and angle of Robert’s car that hit the fence pole is what paralyzed him. His body - bones, organs, etc - absorbed all the kinetic energy when the impact made him go from 200+ to 0 mph in less than a second in the sideways position. But thank God he’s alive. Kenny Brack hit the pole with the nose cone of his car at Texas and it shattered both of his feet into pieces. The Indycar doctors picked up pieces of his feet from the track to put him back together at the hospital he said, and it almost made him paralyzed as well…. His spinal cord came out of its space. Discovery channel did a special on it and how surgeons were able to repair his spine. Similarly, Dan Wheldon hit the fence pole with his helmet in Las Vegas 😢 and he didn’t live to tell the story. I’m glad Robert survived and is able to tell the story and move forward even if he’s paralyzed. He’s going to go do great things because he’s a great person. Life is worth living and he obviously has a great attitude although I’m sure it’s tough to stay positive. One day at a time!
When Wickens came in to IndyCar in 2018, he (as a rookie) lit it on fire more than anyone since maybe Montoya in 1999 or Zanardi or Moore in 1996. Like just you knew he was gonna be a big star.
Great man, great driver. Cheer up Robert.
Go Robert, everyone is cheering for you to keep kicking ass and win races. Update: Wickens is the 2023 Michelin Pilot Series TCR class champion this past Friday. Congrats Robert on your well deserved championship.
Great interview, fellas.
That much force my god how did his insides not end up liquified?? Wow you have one hell of a guardian angel.
I fell off a scaffold in 2013 and landed in the hospital for 2 months. My injuries were nowhere near what Robert endured, but it is only by the grace and mercy of GOD that I can walk.
Good Interview.
I want to watch the whole thing
Just simply amazing both horrible and good.
When an Indycar goes into the fence, it's a crapshoot. Both Kenny Brack and Ryan Briscoe took wild rides that looked worse than Wickens'. They both had extensive injuries (especially Brack), but avoided paralysis. On the other hand, Dan Wheldon didn't survive his accident in Las Vegas. I'm glad to see that Wickens has such a good attitude toward his future, and I wouldn't count him out of further racing.
I hope y’all post the full interview!
Awesome content Jr. 👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏
Awesome video keep up the good work Job
Wow, fucking brutal. Glad you're alive and kicking!
Wow that's a very strong Man plus a badass
Dude is a badass
I really enjoyed watching him race and was watching the race live. I usually don’t react to crashes the way I did that day because of the severity of it (going from speed to the slowing of momentum when he hit the pole). I called my dad and said, “There was a terrible wreck in the Pocono race. I think I just watched Wickens die…”
Must admit Jr. has provided a great forum for discussion’s like this. The fence spins are the worst, Bobby Allison at Talladega damn near killed him too. A lot of bad wrecks at Watkins Glen too. It is impressive Robert and others make these recoveries.
Actually, Bobby Allison was uninjured after his crash at Talladega, which was somewhat remarkable, if for no other reason than his car was hit a couple of times after it bounced off the catchfencing. But the one where he nearly lost his life happened in the exact spot where Wickens' crash took place, as well as where Davey Allison's horrifying crash in 1992 took place, as well where as Dave Marcis' horrendous crash in 1999 happened.
Amazingly brave young man!
My prayers go out to him and those around him. He needs all God’s grace
I like to think Robert would have been a championship winning driver. He was fast. Glad to see him alive and well. Horrific crash.
Was at this race and can say seeing it live from the stands it did not look pretty. I've been to easily over 100 different races at Pocono (Indy, NASCAR cup, Xfinity, trucks, and arca) and can say I've never seen a wreck like that before in person. God bless this man for having a strong will.
I was there in person, that little bit of fire on TV I swear lit up the entire sky. It was scary for sure.
We men are crazy when it comes to accomplishing what we set out to do. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to jump back in the machine that basically destroyed your body. Words can't express the amount of respect i have for this man. I hope he can end his driving career when he is ready to.
6:15 Here's the explanation of Wickens' crash by a guy that has watched way too many crashes and has read about way too many injuries too
As seen on 5:25, the biggest impact is probably the one the side/underside gets before clearing the wall. He goes from 200mph (you always lose speed whenever you spin) to like 100mph in a way that racecars aren't prepared to deal with. He didn't hit the fence with the nose or just the side and you never want the underside to get involved plus humans in racecars HATE lateral impacts.
With the wall cleared, the nose starts to get torn apart by the fence before 2 very solid objects meet at speed: the survival cell and one of the main poles of the catchfence (they have a big strong one every few smaller weaker ones). Now we're getting into "combo" territory, another thing the human body hates. From there, the car is sent into a very fast spin and probably hits a 2nd strong pole before the cockpit is thrown back into the racetrack.
If I had to guess, he probably got disabled with the initial impact, brain got specially screwed with the 2nd one (the combo thing I mentioned) and most of the bones are probably because of the 1st one too.
I'm here in 2024 from watching him race in the tcr imsa series with hand controls, I'm a huge fan now. ✊️
What's unfortunate about this...as a local to Pocono...is that the track has always been unsafe. They tried an exhibition match race back in the 70s I think with Garlits and Muldowny and there was a "dip" on the main straight. When both drivers made their test runs they immediately pulled out refusing to run. Adding insult to injury, the Mattiolis refused to refund the ticket sales. History goes on from there with crashes and incidents that not only ended careers, but lives too as speeds climbed throughout the years. Place is bad news...
I was at this race and I thought for sure he was killed. Remarkable journey Robert has been through to get back into a race car and do what he loves to do.
can anyone tell me it jr's podcast is on tv anymore ???
I was there that day. Once the fireball vanished in the back sector of the track, you could feel everybody was expecting some bad news...
Strange , seems perfect sitting there, but the reality is soo different ❤️🙏🙏
I was at the same hospital for a stroke learning to walk again
it gave me fear that I saw another one of my Canadian racing heroes pass away in a race. First driver I ever was a fan of, the late Greg Moore.
Amazing interview, but damn hard to watch.
This is a big deal. Most drivers live/operate in a world of denial. "It won't happen to me. It will happen to someone else" For Dale to confront this head on with Robert is huge. The machine whether it be a stock car, Indy car ,sprint car ,midget, funny car ,top fuel dragster ,airplane whatever type racing machine it might be, has no soul. When the driver and machine become one ,it IS alive. A convergence you might say. Sometimes that convergence ,maims or kills. It is the reality of what they do. For these guys to sit and talk about this out in the open is honesty on a completely different level. Dale knows all too well the price that can be paid for the convergence. I am sure this was pretty difficult for him. I'm glad he had the balls to do it. I thank Robert Wickens for sharing his story as well.
He disappears in the car after the impact, you can't even see his helmet after he gets back on the ground after the wreck...wtf?
I'm happy for him and admire his fight!
Wow!
Great and powerful story from indy driver,blessings to him
You can see Dalejr is struggling to read Roberts list of injuries... Robert is a walking miracle . The question is why were IndyCars ever on that track ?
because a segment of the fanbase is still stuck in the 90's and insist on a 2nd 500 mile race and pocono is the only track IC could do it at since michigan is a ISC track that people stopped coming to for indycar.
Track was built for indycars
@@xSoccerxCorex Pocono raced Indycars for several years before NASCAR began running there in 1974. The design of the fencing is the issue, like Las Vegas that took Dan Weldon's life, it just tears these cars apart. Roger Penske owns the Indycar series now, so maybe all those fans who left can be drawn back. It's going to take a while but The Captain won't have them race any place where nobody shows up.
They need to put the fence poles on the OUTSIDE of the fence at Pocono!
He’s tough 💪🏽
Wickens got pole position his very first indycar race if my memory is right. Captain ass chin cut an amazing career shirt imo
Canadians are tough mothers. He is a legend.
it sucks he came so close to winning and was looking like a star in the making what could have been
He’s now winning races too!!!!