The 20-year-old Frenchman was aided by team-mate Alexander Rossi, who helped shake down the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner and the staff’s sporting director, was additionally on-site to assist present mentorship.
Pourchaire, who had solely made his sequence debut final month with an Eleventh-place effort on the Streets of Lengthy Seaside, California, took to the 1.25-mile oval and managed to finish 110 laps on the day.
“It’s been an awesome day and actually pleased that I used to be capable of get again behind the wheel of the Arrow McLaren Indy automotive; to have this chance once more was nice,” mentioned the reigning Formulation 2 champion.
“The primary time for me on an oval, which was actually thrilling. I couldn’t wait to really feel the driving on an oval. I can say it now, it’s actually, actually fast. Actually spectacular.
“You need to be actually easy on the steering wheel, steering inputs, going again on energy and it’s a must to be actually easy within the automotive. It feels wonderful.”
Commenting on the fatigue of lapping on an oval, he added: “I’m actually drained mentally as effectively as a result of it’s going tremendous fast and also you don’t wish to make a mistake on a observe like this.
“Should you make a small mistake, you possibly can find yourself within the wall and everyone knows if you find yourself within the wall on an oval is admittedly harmful, however I loved it.”
Based on a staff consultant, Pourchaire has been given “the inexperienced mild from the sequence to compete on ovals sooner or later”.
Outdoors of his run at Lengthy Seaside, Pourchaire additionally raced for the staff in the newest spherical at Barber Motorsports Park, the place he was operating 18th on the penultimate lap earlier than being punted out of the way in which by team-mate Pato O’Ward.
As of now, Pourchaire has not been confirmed for extra races with the staff. Arrow McLaren has but to announce its driver(s) of the No. 6 entry for the remainder of the season following final week’s launch David Malukas.