Rest in peace, Justin Wilson

A little less than four years ago, I was able to cover the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For the first time, the track planned on running a combined event weekend with the IndyCar Series racing its season finale the next day.
Little did I know that day -- Oct. 16, 2011 -- would last only 10 laps before Dan Wheldon passed away at age 33 from injuries sustained in a vicious wreck in Turn 2.
That was a very sad day. I cried openly when I saw the news back at the office, and may have turned into a blubbering baby had I been at LVMS to witness and write about what happened in person.
On Monday night, nearly four years later, IndyCar lost another great driver as Justin Wilson died after suffering a head injury brought on during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway a little more than 24 hours earlier.
Wilson was just 37 years old.
Staring at the screen, I can't find many words to express the sadness I'm feeling for this loss. Wilson was struck in the head by what multiple accounts say was the nose cone from the car of Sage Karam, who was leading the 200-lap race at the time.
When Wheldon died, his car was basically flung head-on into a metal post that supported the catch fence in Turn 2. That race was not completed, and the feeling of emptiness was palpable.
The only difference with Wilson's death was the timing. He was in the wrong place at the worst possible time, trailing Karam as the debris from his wreck came flying off with just 20 laps remaining.
Like Wheldon four years before him, Wilson wasn't racing full-time in the IndyCar Series this season. He was in his sixth race of 2015. So very sadly, the 174th start of Wilson's career was his last.
My reporting colleague Brant James of USA Today wrote a very humbling reminder in his column on what really makes a race car driver do what he does, even as the dangers lurk around every curve, every elevation change, and every turn of a lap.
"This isn’t about 'they died doing what they loved.' It’s about reconciling feelings over a game so intoxicating to those who so badly want to be a part of it, and so cruel to those who care about them.
And it’s about the memories that make days like today even sadder."
Wheldon left behind his wife, Susie, and two young sons -- Sebastian, now six years old, and Oliver, who is four.
Wilson leaves behind his wife, Julia, and two young daughters -- 7-year-old Jane and 5-year-old Jessica.
IndyCar's final race of the 2015 season, the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, will go on as scheduled Sunday afternoon. The championship celebration will happen in San Francisco a week from today.
And like this tweet from F1 Grid says perfectly, both Wilson and Wheldon will stop to join the fun from their pit-road paddock in heaven.
Godspeed, Justin. Thank you for living without fear and racing without limits. We all can learn something from your legacy.
Followers and comments are welcome on Twitter @Tomzsports.