Arrow McLaren has revealed its driver for entry #6 for most of the remaining races of the 2024 IndyCar season. Theo Pourchaire will take over driving duties for all upcoming races, except for the Indy 500. Pourchaire will replace David Malukas, who was originally scheduled to compete in most races but was sidelined due to a hand injury. The team has decided to name Pourchaire as a more permanent substitute for the 22-year-old driver. Pourchaire has already participated in two races earlier in the season and performed well enough to secure a spot on the team for the rest of the year.
Despite remaining as a reserve driver for the Sauber F1 team, Pourchaire has decided to prioritize his commitments in IndyCar and will not compete in the Super Formula season. One of the challenges Pourchaire will face in his new role is racing on oval tracks, something he has never done before in his career. He recently completed his first test on an oval track at Gateway and admitted to feeling nervous and intimidated initially. However, he gained more confidence as the test progressed and is now looking forward to his first race on an oval track, scheduled for July 13th at Iowa Speedway.
Team Principal Gavin Ward expressed excitement to continue working with Pourchaire, praising his ability to adapt and learn quickly. The team believes that his skills and willingness to learn will contribute to his development as he becomes more comfortable racing in the NTT IndyCar Series. The team has not yet announced a driver for the Indianapolis 500, but has assured fans that news on this matter will be revealed soon. The team’s new arrangement will begin this weekend with the Sonsio Grand Prix, taking place on Saturday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit.