As the drivers of IndyCar prepare for their season-closing race at Sonoma Raceway, they likely do so with heavy hearts following the crash that claimed the life of . So to honor him, they drove his car and their own across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge ahead of this race weekend.

reports the formation was planned to promote this weekend’s race, but after the death of Wilson — a veteran driver respected as both a competitor and a gentleman — IndyCar turned it into a memorial as well. On Thursday afternoon northbound traffic was closed off as onlookers stood by to take photos and pay their respects.

Wilson’s Car No. 25 was driven by his teammate, Marco Andretti. Here’s what he told Fox Sports:

“It’s hard to ever move on from something like that,” Andretti said. “It won’t fully hit me until after the season is over and we drop our focus. When Dan Wheldon was killed (in Las Vegas in 2011) it was the last race of the season. This one, we have all felt it but we have tried to stay busy thinking about this race. We are trying to remember Justin and celebrate his life. I got together with some fellow drivers at my house on Sunday night and it was good for us to all get together.”

Photos credit AP

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