F2 champion Theo Pourchaire gets another IndyCar race with McLaren as Malukas continues to heal
Theo Pourchaire faces a new challenge following his IndyCar debut — going from the streets of Long Beach to the road course at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
The 20-year old Frenchman, who is the reigning Formula 2 champion, gets his second turn racing for injured Arrow McLaren driver David Malukas on Sunday. He goes to a different side of the country and a much different course.
“For me, it was something new,” Pourchaire said this week after McLaren said he would race Barber. “It was not easy to learn, but in the end I think I adapted pretty quickly to this championship, to this car, to the team. I still have a lot of things to learn, like for example, this weekend it’s going to be a new race track.
“I will almost start from zero. I have a little bit more experience now, so I feel a bit more confident.”
Pourchaire had never before driven an Indy car until last weekend’s first practice session. He qualified 22nd but finished 11th and was IndyCar’s “biggest mover” at Long Beach, “which is incredible for my first IndyCar race.”