Wilson used his platform to champion causes related to dyslexia.
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The racer was struck in the head by a flying piece of debris from another crashed vehicle at the Pocono Raceway, knocking him unconscious.
His wife, parents and brother were by his side when he passed away at Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital in Pennsylvania.
Wilson was hit by what appeared to be part of Sage Karam’s auto after it spun out on lap 179 of the 200-lap race. Though immediately airlifted to hospital, Wilson succumbed to his injuries on Monday afternoon.
Wilson was 37 and is survived by his wife, Julia, and young daughters Jane and Jessica.
Wilson struggled to secure a regular drive this year but was thrilled to have been given some races at the end of the series with Andretti Autosport.
Wilson reached the highest level of worldwide motor sports – Formula One – but his stay there was short.
Wilson had experience of Formula One also, having driven for Minardi and Jaguar during the 2003 season, while his association with motorsport was deeply entrenched.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wilson Children’s Fund, care of IndyCar. “@justin_wilson was a good man. A great man. I had the pleasure of knowing him and pray for his family”, wrote Danica Patrick.
IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, who died Monday of injuries sustained at the Pocono Raceway, was an organ donor “who saved 6 lives today,” his brother said Tuesday.
Justin Wilson was seriously injured in IndyCar crashes twice in a two-year span. Both times, the veteran driver returned to competition unwavering in his love for the sport and his acceptance of the risks.
AJ Allmendinger – a former teammate at Michael Shank Racing when the team won the Rolex 24 at Daytona global Speedway in 2012 – reached out to deliver one of the most poignant messages in a series of tweets.
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His death is the first fatality in IndyCar since the 2011 death of fellow Briton Dan Wheldon. “That allows you to take the measure of the man, and we will be forever grateful for his loyalty, and the gracious and gentlemanly way he represented our company, on and off the race track”.
