Theo Pourchaire, the reigning champion of the 2023 F2 season, made a strong impression on the IndyCar scene with his remarkable performance in Long Beach. The Arrow McLaren racing team announced on Tuesday morning that Pourchaire will be driving for them in his second race this upcoming weekend.
Despite having no previous experience in an IndyCar, Pourchaire managed to make a significant impact during the Long Beach Grand Prix. With just a single simulator session and video review as preparation, the 20-year-old driver climbed from 22nd to an impressive 11th place. Not only did he outshine his fellow rookies, but he also gained the most positions among all drivers on the grid.
Pourchaire’s exceptional performance undoubtedly influenced Arrow McLaren’s decision to keep him for another race. The team had been considering this possibility since they initially approached him a few weeks ago. This decision was further solidified by the fact that their contracted driver, David Malukas, is still recovering from a serious wrist injury he suffered at the end of February.
Initially, Malukas was expected to recover in six weeks. However, his healing process has been taking longer than anticipated, and the extent of his injuries has proven to be more significant than initially thought. As a result, the team has not made concrete plans beyond the upcoming weekend, as they are closely monitoring Malukas’s progress and assessing his health.
It is currently scheduled for Malukas to have the pins removed from his injured hand this week, marking a crucial milestone in his journey to return to the driver’s seat.
