INDYCAR: Stefan Wilson confirmed for Indy 500

Stefan Wilson was confirmed today as the driver of the No. 25 KV Chevy for the 100th running of the Indy 500 in May, and he will have a fitting sponsor to support the effort.

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Multiple lives were saved through Justin's participation as an organ donor, and from the Briton's benevolent gesture, another gift – an unexpected sponsorship opportunity – arose that will allow his younger brother to realize his Indy 500 dream.

"It's been such a journey," Wilson told RACER. "It was a couple of years ago when Justin won the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona with Michael Shank Racing [in 2012] where I looked out and thought we weren't far away from racing the 100th Indy 500, he'd won the 50th Rolex race, and thought how amazing would it be for the two of us to race together at Indy.

"That's when I started working on finding the sponsorship to make that 100th race and, with all the ups and downs trying to get there, it's bittersweet to know Justin won't be on the grid with me. It was a pretty dark time after Justin's accident, but Justin was able to make something positive from the worst negatives and there are five people walking around today because of his organ donation – and, from it, a relationship with the Indiana Donor Network was established and built into a partnership for Indy."

The key aspect of the alliance between Wilson and the Indiana Donor Network is to drive awareness for organ donation, and through the "Driven2SaveLives" initiative, a goal of registering 2500 new donors across the country has been set. With Wilson having enrolled, the number is already down to 2499.

The 26-year-old will have his brother's good friend Sebastien Bourdais, and fellow rookie Matthew Brabham, as teammates for the Indy 500 at KVSH, and the No. 25 Driven2SaveLives Chevy will also carry sponsorship from Gap Guard, a company owned by championship-winning Mazda Road to Indy entrant Dale Pelfrey. 

"I'm also excited to be partnering with Dale Pelfrey and Gap Guard, and have a fantastic relationship with him, and his team, and I was an actual Gap Guard user in my car before we met," Wilson said with a laugh. "I'm one of those rare cases of someone who was a fan that's now sponsored by the product he already owns."

And with his car bearing the No. 25--the last number used by Justin--Stefan will continue his brother's legacy in yet another way at the 500.

Wilson will get a chance to race before practice starts at Indy when he gets behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Super Trofeo Cup car this weekend as part of IMSA's Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix presented by Mazda. Once he's finished at the sportscar event in California, Wilson says he will be counting the days until he pilots the No. 25 Driven2SaveLives Chevy.

"The real work starts with KV, my teammates Sebastien and Matt, doing the best preparation we can to have a good Indy 500," he added. "At the same time, there's a reflection that Justin won't be there with me – but I will be honoring him in everything I do, and we have some special plans we'll unveil. I'll also have all of the people who've reached out since Pocono to tell me about how Justin's donations saved their lives, or how organ donation has touched the lives of their family or friends. Along with my own family that will be there supporting me, I know I'll have a lot more friends who were touched by Justin cheering me on. I think it's going to be a pretty special month for everyone."