Reigning System 2 champion Pourchaire is contemporary off making his IndyCar Sequence debut on the Streets of Lengthy Seashore final weekend, the place he began twenty second and completed a decent eleventh whereas substituting for the injured David Malukas within the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Whereas Malukas continues to recuperate from a left wrist damage and surgical procedure following a mountain biking accident over the offseason, the workforce will name on Pourchaire for the second consecutive race weekend, alongside Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi.
Arrow McLaren leaned on Callum Ilott early on as a stand-in for Malukas at varied testing days and the primary two races of 2024, which included the non-points occasion at The Thermal Membership final month. Nevertheless, a scheduling conflict with the FIA World Endurance Championship prevented Ilott from working Lengthy Seashore.
Pourchaire, a reserve and check driver for Sauber’s System 1 workforce, took honours as the most important mover at Lengthy Seashore. He beforehand shared that he had been contracted “to drive for the subsequent two races, to interchange David” however additional famous the spherical at Barber Motorsports Park was depending on the well being of Malukas.
Nevertheless it grew to become identified over the weekend at Lengthy Seashore that Malukas nonetheless had pins in his wrist from the surgical procedure, that are anticipated to be eliminated on Wednesday.
Arrow McLaren workforce principal Gavin Ward beforehand confirmed to Autosport after the race in California that Pourchaire can be at Alabama venue Barber.
“We dropped Theo in about as a lot within the deep finish as he might be dropped,” Ward mentioned.
“We had excessive hopes and I really like the best way he approached the weekend. He simply bought constructed as much as it. He is accomplished each lap and simply bought higher and higher. Actually, actually spectacular debut. …
“The passion is infectious. You could possibly hear it on the radio. He was having fun with himself on the market and that is enjoyable. He is simply been tremendous completely satisfied to be in IndyCar and take advantage of this chance, in order that makes everyone smile.”