Theo Pourchaire Looks to Build on Impressive INDYCAR Debut
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment
For the second straight weekend, Frenchman Theo Pourchaire will fill in for injured Arrow McLaren driver David Malukas, who is still recovering from surgery for a left wrist injury suffered in a biking accident.
The 20-year-old reigning FIA Formula 2 champ was impressive in his INDYCAR debut at last weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, finishing 11th in the No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Pourchaire is looking to build on his performance at this weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.
“Yeah, first of all I think I'm really happy how the weekend went in Long Beach. It was my first ever race weekend in INDYCAR. I was discovering the car on Friday, the track, and the team as well.
“Of course, I arrived two weeks ago there when the team called me to drive for them in Long Beach. But it was still new people to me, engineers, mechanics, all the people working in the team.
“It was a good weekend overall. I'm happy with my performance and the team's performance. In the race we were really quick. I finished as the biggest mover of the race from 22nd to 11th, which is incredible my first INDYCAR race. Yeah, really proud of that.
“Looking forward to jump back in the car in Barber.”
While he feels more confident heading to Barber, Pourchaire admits he still has lots to learn about INDYCAR.
“Yeah, I learned a lot of things. I think how the car behaves on the racetrack like Long Beach was important for me to discover. But it will be even more important to rediscover the car, I would say, in Barber because the track is completely different. This is one thing.
“I would say also the INDYCAR races, it's super long, 85 laps in Long Beach. It was really tough. A few pit stops. The strategy, as well. The fuel saving. For me, it was something new. It was not easy to learn.
“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, for me this weekend it's going to be a new racetrack. Again, I will almost start from zero. I have a little bit of experience now so I feel a little bit more confident.”
Photo Credit: Travis Hinkle, Penske Entertainment
In addition to his current duties as a test and reserve driver for the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber in Formula 1, Pourchaire is competing in Japan’s SUPER FORMULA Championship with Team Impul. It’s a variety of categories not many drivers get to experience, especially at his age.
“Yeah, I think I can say I'm a lucky guy. In last six months, I drove a Formula 2 car, Formula 1 car, SUPER FORMULA and now an INDYCAR. Not a lot of drivers can say that and I'm really happy because it's good. I'm only 20 years old. Just to have the possibility to drive those kinds of race cars, it's amazing.
“I would say of course Formula 1 is amazing. It's super fast. Formula 2 is a little bit like INDYCAR, I would say. We have no power steering. Of course, the downforce level, the weight of the car is a little bit different. The tracks, as well. It's difficult to compare both cars.
“The SUPER FORMULA is completely different. It's super light, not so powerful. We don't go too fast in the straight line. It's super fast in the high-speed corners. A track like Suzuka, for example, it's almost as quick as Formula 1 car in sector one. As soon as there is a little bit of straight lines, it's not quick. It's very different.
“Those three cars, F2, SUPER FORMULA and INDYCAR are really good to drive. Especially the INDYCAR, I love it. I mean, the racing is good there. Racing in Long Beach for 85 laps, overtaking a lot of cars, pit stops, that's what I like. It's good when you have good races like this.
“I mean, at the moment I'm super happy to be there driving the INDYCAR. I love it.”
Photo Credit: James Black, Penske Entertainment
Formula 1 remains Pourchaire’s dream. But even though he’s the reigning F2 champion, it’s not a guarantee of making the final step to F1.
“It's very, very difficult because I feel like there is not a lot of new drivers in F1 nowadays. It's the same drivers since a lot of times. It's good to have some experience and good drivers, but they need to win, they need to be really good. So this is good.
“But in my position, I'm young, I'm still really young. I know I can have probably a few more opportunities to go to F1 if I'm a really good driver. I think a place like the INDYCAR championship can be the best championship for me to show myself.
“I hope I can drive more there in the future, if I don't have the opportunity in F1. That would be awesome.”
But how long is Pourchaire willing to wait for F1?
“I feel like I have a lot of time in front of me because sometimes people can forget that, but I'm only 20 years old. Of course, I'm F2 champion, which is great.
“I want more. I want to win a few championships. If I can win one day the INDYCAR championship, my dream is also to be an F1 world champion. That's the dream of everybody.
“I have a few possibilities. I still have a lot of time in front of me. I would say, yeah, probably a few years.
“Of course, to have a place in F1, it's tough nowadays,” Pourchaire added. “INDYCAR is an amazing option. It's not less. It's not under Formula 1, for sure.
““INDYCAR is an amazing option. It’s not less. It’s not under Formula 1, for sure.”
“F1 is good. It's the dream of everybody, every racing driver one day. Since I started racing as a kid, F1 is the dream. But INDYCAR is really good, as well.
“I think about one day winning the Indy 500, winning an INDYCAR championship. That would be awesome.”
Short-term, Pourchaire is focused on this weekend at Barber, taking what he learned at Long Beach and building on that.
“Yeah, I think it's been a great first race for me in Long Beach. Good thing is that it was already good without any experience in INDYCAR.
“So coming into Barber, I just want to think only about myself, just trying to drive the car again in practice one, do a lot of laps, discover as much things as possible.
“I have a little bit of experience now, so I will not be completely lost at the first time I will be in the car. In Long Beach, the first session, I was discovering everything. The track was really bumpy. There was a lot of traffic. The experienced drivers, they were already driving really quick, passing me on the track. It was a bit tricky.
“Now it's going to be fine. I just have to work hard again. I'm sure we can have a great car as well there in Barber. The team is doing a great job. I just have to follow my teammates. They are great drivers.
“Yeah, I'm sure I can improve from them, learn from them, and myself. It's going to be great.”