Theo Pourchaire needs to capitalize on IndyCar opportunity with Arrow McLaren

Arrow McLaren has endured a lack of stability with its driver lineup in 2024, and IndyCar's trip across the border to Canada is no different.

Alexander Rossi crashed at Turn 8 in the closing stages of Practice 1, breaking his right thumb after colliding with the wall. Theo Pourchaire, who raced with the team earlier in the season, will replace the American for the rest of the weekend.

The 20-year-old impressed during his IndyCar debut at Long Beach, replacing the injured David Malukas and finishing in 10th at Detroit. He was dropped by Arrow McLaren, which signed Nolan Siegel, and left without a permanent drive after sacrificing his Super Formula season.

The bumpy streets of Toronto will present a challenging circuit for the Arrow McLaren driver, who will be competing for the first time at that track.

"Following an on-track incident where Alexander Rossi sustained a broken right thumb," Arrow McLaren said in a statement, "Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team announces Théo Pourchaire to race the No. 7 Ryde Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for the remainder of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race weekend.

"Théo will arrive at the track ahead of the qualifying session Saturday afternoon, missing Practice 2 as he travels to Toronto from Europe."

This means he will set his first laps of the weekend in qualifying before the 85-lap race on Sunday.

This event will be an uphill battle, but not an opportunity Pourchaire should squander. His last-minute call-up to replace Rossi provides another chance to prove his worth at a critical time of his career.

He won the FIA Formula 2 Championship last year and has aspirations of racing in Formula 1 or IndyCar. Without a full-time drive in 2023, opportunities such as this are the only times he has to impress team bosses.

He has proven adaptable and quick to get up to speed at a new circuit, finishing 11th on his IndyCar debut at Long Beach.