ROBERT WICKENS

(AP Photo/John Raoux, File) (John Raoux)BOWMANVILLE, Ontario — (AP) — What a week for Robert Wickens, who picked up his second win in seven days on Saturday while celebrating the birth of his first child. The win followed their victory last week at Watkins Glen in New York, which marked Wickens' first victory since he suffered a career-halting spinal cord injury in a 2018 IndyCar race. “It’s been a fairytale, really,” Wickens said. “I’ve never been so prepared ahead of a race,” Wickens said. I think I got all my tears out on Friday when our son Wesley was born and he was healthy.

What a week for Robert Wickens, who picked up his second win in seven days on Saturday and also celebrated the birth of his first child.

(AP Photo/John Raoux, File) (John Raoux)Robert Wickens last weekend used hand controls in an IMSA sports car race for his first victory since a 2018 spinal cord injury temporarily ended his racing career. In England, former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt completed the hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a special McLaren 720S Spider. “It’s like riding a bike, but it’s a very different bike, I guess is the best way to describe it,” Wickens said of racing with hand controls. Herta and Hyundai have him racing again, and Wickens and his wife, Karli, are expecting their first child in the next two weeks. I’ve always been my happiest when I’m behind the wheel of a race car," he said.

Robert Wickens scored his first victory since his nearly career-ending spinal cord injury in 2018 by winning an IMSA sports car race last weekend at Watkins Glen.

Wickens and Mark Wilkins teamed for a third-place finish Friday in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge touring car class season opener. Wickens was in his wheelchair for the podium celebration when the champagne was passed out for the customary celebratory spray. Bryan Herta Autosport made his comeback possible with a custom hand control system that Wickens uses for accelerating and braking. The team uses the same system in a second car for paralyzed driver Michael Johnson and Herta was determined to make Wickens a race car driver again. I never became a race car driver expecting that would happen.

Robert Wickens marked his return to racing after more than three years with a podium finish at Daytona International Speedway.

The Canadian's life was upended 14 races into his rookie IndyCar season. The path back to his new normal has tested him to his limits, but Wickens can see the checkered flag. Wickens uses a wheelchair — he can stand with some support — and he’s accepted that he'll likely never fully walk again. But this weekend still marks a monumental fresh start as Wickens begins a full season of racing with Herta. He turned 62 laps that day and sparked enough interest for Herta to pull a full-time team together for Wickens.

Robert Wickens will resume his racing career Friday after more than three years sidelined with a spinal cord injury.

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