Theo Pourchaire Replaces Alexander Rossi in Toronto

Arrow McLaren has confirmed that Theo Pourchaire will replace Alexander Rossi for this weekend's IndyCar Series race in Toronto. Rossi suffered a right thumb fracture after hitting the tire barrier at Turn 8 during Friday's practice, ruling him out for the rest of the event.

Pourchaire, who will travel from Europe, will join the team just before Saturday's qualifying session, missing the second practice. The team announced: “Following an on-track incident where Alexander Rossi sustained a right thumb fracture, the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team confirms that Theo Pourchaire will race the No. 7 Ryde Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for the remainder of the race weekend in Toronto. Theo will arrive at the track ahead of the Saturday afternoon qualifying session.”

Rossi, who returned to Indianapolis to begin his treatment, has the team's support for his recovery. Pourchaire, the Formula 2 champion and Sauber reserve driver, had previously impressed the team in his initial appearances at Long Beach and Barber Motorsports Park, securing a contract for the 2024 season, excluding the Indianapolis 500. However, he was replaced by Nolan Siegel in a recent team move.

Changes in Arrow McLaren

In recent months, Arrow McLaren has made several changes to their driver lineup. Christian Lundgaard has been announced as a new driver for the 2025 season, while David Malukas and Theo Pourchaire have had intermittent roles due to injuries and team strategy changes. Lundgaard, 22, joins with previous experience in Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and a notable history in Formula 2 and as a development driver for Alpine.