Justin Wilson's brother visits IndyCar paddock at Sonoma Raceway

Published Aug. 30, 2015 11:27 a.m. ET

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SONOMA, California - Just six days after his older brother, Justin Wilson, was killed after a crash at Pocono Raceway, Stefan Wilson arrived at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday. Stefan Wilson, a 25-year-old aspiring IndyCar driver from Sheffield, England, appeared emotionally drained as he arrived with a group of close friends.

The INDYCAR community has embraced the Wilson Family during this tragic time following the death of 37-year-old Justin.

Wilson spoke to a select group of media Sunday morning at Sonoma Raceway.

“Thanks for everyone who has reached out with support and the amazing tributes everyone has been paying,” Wilson said. “I’m very, very grateful to all of the support shown to Justin’s family. That was his No. 1 priority to take care of his daughters. That has become my priority as well. I expected a few T-shirt sales - not a few thousands. It’s been overwhelming the support everyone has shown for their future.”

When Wilson arrived at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday, he was able to talk to members of the INDYCAR community as he walked up pit lane.

“We aren’t going to get any more amazing memories of Justin than we already have,” Wilson said. “Everybody told me their amazing memories of him and there are going to be no more. I’m trying to be strong for him. He wouldn’t want us moping around.

“I would rather be home right now but Justin would rather us be here and get on with racing.”

Stefan has hopes of a career in the Verizon IndyCar Series but those plans have been put on hold. He is more concerned with taking care of Justin’s family.

“If anything, it has made me even more determined to continue racing,” Wilson said. “I was working on plans for the Indy 500 next year. I don’t want this conversation to be about that but people have asked me what I’m going to do now.

“Justin would want me to fulfill those plans. My thoughts and conversations right now are about him and his family.”

Wilson’s parents are with his widow, Julia, and her two daughters in Colorado this weekend.

“Julia has been really strong throughout this and strong as a parent,” Wilson said. “The harder times are to come with the arrangements.”

Because his older brother was killed in an extremely freak accident, Stefan has tried to come to grasp with it.

“It was so freak there is no one to be angry,” Wilson said. “It was not preventable. I spotted for Justin in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 and Townsend Bell crashed right in front of him. It was a cloud of debris and it hit his car and ended the race for Justin but there was not a scratch on him.

“You think about all the things that could have happened and if you changed the parameter by the smallest amount we are not sitting here having this conversation. It’s so freak. There is no anger. All I feel now is the love for everyone for him.”

Wilson is remembered most for his character as a man more so than his career that included seven IndyCar victories.

“It was so frustrating in Justin’s career because he was on the cusp of a great drive,” Wilson said. “I know how good he was. I was his biggest fan. We wanted to see him shine and he appeared in that place right now with Honda and Andretti. He didn’t get an Indy 500 ring or a championship in IndyCar but he had a lot of success. The tribute that Roger Penske gave on Saturday helps.

“It’s comforting to know even though he didn’t get those things but he had the potential.”

Among those who are reaching out to support Wilson’s widow, Julia, and young daughters, Jane and Jessica, is American Honda and Honda Performance Development.

American Honda and HPD will contribute $50 per lap completed at Sonoma by each of the 13 Honda entries at this weekend’s race for a possible donation of just over $55,000 to the Wilson Children’s’ Fund.

“Justin was a valuable member of our racing program, but he also was our friend, and all of us at American Honda and HPD grieve together at his loss,” said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development. “We’re hoping to honor his memory with this pledge, and hope that Justin’s many fans and friends can also assist the family at this tragic time.”

IndyCar Series veteran Oriol Servia, Wilson’s close friend, will now have the responsibility of driving the No. 25 Andretti Autosport entry, formerly piloted by Wilson. The Wilson family chose Servia to be the driver to take over his ride.

“We are so happy it was Oriol who knew Justin and raced with him for 12 years and had some great races with each other,” Wilson said. “I knew it was right to choose Oriol when we called him up. He was tore up and didn’t want to do it himself because of the gravity of it all but that meant something to me how much he liked Justin.

“Oriol and Justin never got the opportunities they deserved and it meant a lot how much respect Oriol had for Justin.”

INDYCAR will pay tribute to Wilson before the start of Sunday’s Go Pro Grand Prix of Sonoma including a tribute video, special signage for the children’s fund, sky writing pilots drawing No. 25 in the sky above Sonoma Raceway. Also, “God Save the Queen” the British national anthem, will be played followed by a moment of silence. The LED car positioning lights will all display Wilson’s No. 25 on the pace laps.

A new Wilson Children’s Fund account has been established at Forum Credit Union of Indianapolis, and all donations previously sent to INDYCAR will be forwarded to the new account.  All donations will be kept confidential, and an electronic option will soon be available for those wishing to contribute on-line or internationally.

Those wishing to contribute may do so by mailing a donation to:

Phone: (317) 558-6000

Additionally, commemorative decals and T-shirts honoring Wilson, with all proceeds going directly to the Wilson Children’s Fund, are now available from:

http://shop.ims.com/indycar/drivers/justin-wilson/

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Be sure to catch Bruce Martin's Honda IndyCar Report on RACEDAY on FOX Sports Radio every Sunday from 6-8 a.m. ET.

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