Justin Wilson (racing driver)
A towering and universally respected IndyCar driver whose gentle nature off the track belied a fierce competitor and a legacy of helping others.
1978–2015 (age 37)·British racing driver·Birthday: July 31·Generation X
Biography
Justin Wilson won the Formula 3000 title despite funding hurdles that nearly ended his career. The 6-foot-4 Englishman spent one season in Formula One before moving to Champ Car and IndyCar. He claimed several victories on street and road courses, driving with a smooth, intelligent style. Wilson became a leader in the driver safety movement. He died in 2015 after being struck by debris at Pocono Raceway. His memory endures as a devoted family man and a gracious ambassador for motorsport.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Justin was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Justin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Justin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2015Died at 37
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Won the 2001 International Formula 3000 championship, beating future Formula One stars like Mark Webber.
- Scored seven wins in American open-wheel racing across the Champ Car and IndyCar Series.
- Co-drove to victory in the 2012 24 Hours of Daytona for Michael Shank Racing.
- His final IndyCar win in 2015 at Texas Motor Speedway was a popular and emotional victory for the underfunded Dale Coyne Racing team.
Did You Know?
Due to his height, he required a specially modified seat and pedal extensions to fit in an IndyCar cockpit.
He held a commercial pilot's license and enjoyed flying in his spare time.
He established a scholarship fund for young British drivers, which continues in his name.
His helmet design featured a prominent maple leaf as a tribute to his Canadian wife, Julia.
“My height was a challenge, but I made it my advantage in the car.”
