Servia: I hope we did Justin Wilson proud

Driving less than a week after Wilson passed away from head injuries sustained at Pocono last Sunday, Servia drove his #25 car as a tribute to the hugely popular English driver.

“I really think we coulda been top five, I hope Justin was proud of what we did – we definitely fought really hard,” said Servia. “The most important thing was I had a lot of fun, I know he wanted me to have a lot of fun like he always did driving these cars.

“I was fighting with [Ryan] Briscoe [who finished fifth], I think we had a better car than him, but the last yellow there just didn’t work for me or anyone on my strategy. We got sent to the back.”

Servia finished 12^th, but had earlier run as high as third on his alternate strategy to the leading runners.

“I had a great time from the beginning. From Friday, I was really struggling – just to stay in the seat! Yesterday I made big improvements and today every lap I was just getting better and remembering how to drive these machines.

“There’s nothing that can help us fill the void, for Justin not being here. But I hope we all remember him and inspire us to be better humans, just like he was.

“Please go to wilsonchildrensfund.com and donate whatever you spent this Sunday, just match it – if we all do that, those beautiful daughters will have things a lot easier.”

Hunter-Reay pays tribute too

Second-place finisher at Sonoma, Ryan Hunter-Reay, also paid tribute to his former teammate.

“Today we’re remembering Justin, I really want to emphasize that,” he said. “We’re not moving on from him, he’s a part of what we’re doing and he’s inspired me.

"I’m going to take his traits and learn – from the short time he was my teammate – and apply it all the time. He’ll always be moving forwards with Andretti Autosport.”