IndyCar drivers shine a spotlight on safety heading into 2016 season; "There needs to be a change"

ELKHART LAKE -- The future of IndyCar in the state of Wisconsin is safe -- for now. In June, the series takes over Road America for the first time since 2007. A few weeks ago, the drivers came to town to reconnect with the track.

"We want to go to places that will welcome us and want us and it's great that we're coming back in 2016," said Helio Castroneves, IndyCar driver.

Helio Castroneves

After an eight-year hiatus, the IndyCar series is coming back to Elkhart Lake.

"It's cool to be back at a full blown road course like Road America," said Scott Dixon, IndyCar driver.

At the end of September, drivers visited the famed course to test their cars and take notes for June's Road America Grand Prix. The session was open to fans and a good crowd cheered on their favorites. But one was missing: Justin Wilson. After a wreck in front of him at Pocono Raceway in August, flying debris hit Wilson in the head and he died the next day from his injuries.

Justin Wilson

This accident was unique and hard to prevent but the overall safety of the sport was forced into the spotlight.

"The Verizon IndyCar Series does a great job of being on the forefront of safety improvements, you know, and that's no different from what we're facing right now. But obviously with the loss of Justin, and you know, the tragic accident that it was, a bit of a unique accident -- it definitely opened up the eyes I think for a lot of different things," said Dixon.

"The series has been doing quite amazing to be honest. If you're talking about the cars, it's much better safe-wise in terms of what it used to be 20 to 40 years ago," said Castroneves.

But IndyCar racing, open wheel racing in general, does have its dangers.

"I mean, it's open wheel cars, you know what I mean, it is what it is. I tell people if you don't like it go and drive something else. I mean, is it dangerous? It's always dangerous. Can accidents happen? Yeah. But it is what it is," said Juan Pablo Montoya, IndyCar driver.

IndyCar

And while drivers understand and accept the risk, some still think that something can be done to prevent future tragedies.

"There's no doubt that IndyCar and ourselves, the drivers, need to work together to make this sport even safer. It is true that it will never be the safest sport on earth because we're going so fast but we need to find ways; technology ways, advanced ways -- and we really need to dig deep to understand it," said Simon Pagenaud, IndyCar driver.

IndyCar

"I think there needs to be a change not just from IndyCar, but just open wheels in general for head protection in some way," said Will Power, IndyCar driver.

As the IndyCar Series hosts meetings to discuss future improvements, drivers are still mourning the loss of their colleague and friend, Justin Wilson.

"Justin was a very special person, a great friend and it's going to be a very difficult time," said Dixon.

Scott Dixon

"It still seems surreal that he's not here," said Power.

"The sadness I have for what happened, you can't really, there's nothing to replace it. There's nothing to make you happy about anything but I'm just glad that we can carry Justin's memory," said Pagenaud.

"He always had a smile on his face and he was always interacting with fans and his family and friends and that was the cool part about him and who he was as a person, as well as race car driver," said Charlie Kimball, IndyCar driver.

During the test session last month, 50% of ticket sales were donated to Justin Wilson's Children's Fund. IndyCar also auctioned off some signed merchandise to help support his wife and two daughters.