Theo Pourchaire To Go Full-Time for Arrow McLaren, Except for Indy 500
Photo Credit: Travis Hinkle, Penske Entertainment
The Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team has tabbed Theo Pourchaire to drive its No. 6 SmartStop Chevrolet in Saturday’s Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. As he has no prior oval racing experience, Pourchaire will sit out the Indianapolis 500, but return to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES full-time at the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Detroit.
Pourchaire made his series debut at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and raced the following weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, subbing for the injured David Malukas, who has since been released from the team.
The twenty-year-old Frenchman is excited with his increased role at McLaren.
“I'm so happy to be able to drive more in INDYCAR. I just would like to thank Arrow McLaren for the opportunity. I developed a good relationship with the team since I arrived in Indianapolis, and right now I have this opportunity to finish the season with them, except the Indy 500, of course.
“Yeah, it's unbelievable. Also I have to thank Sauber (Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber). I'm part of the Sauber Academy, and I'm still a reserve driver for them, so they made this possible, as well. So big thanks to everybody, and I'm super happy.”
“I just took my suitcase with not so many things inside, just told my parents I will come back soon, but apparently not.”
Until a month ago, Pourchaire, the reigning F2 champion, had no idea he’d become a full-time INDYCAR driver.
“Yeah, it's crazy when I think about it. A few weeks ago I just received a call from Arrow McLaren to replace an injured driver for one race in Long Beach, so I just took my suitcase with not so many things inside, just told my parents I will come back soon, but apparently not.
“It's good. It's an amazing opportunity, as I said. Again, a big thank you to the Arrow McLaren team. For me it's amazing to be able to drive for such a brand, a legendary name.
“It's like a childhood dream to drive for McLaren. I will give my best and enjoy it, improve myself. It's not going to be easy, but I'm happy to be here.”
Photo Credit: Karl Zemlin, Penske Entertainment
McLaren has not yet announced who will drive the No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in the Indy 500 later this month. While he had his first oval test at World Wide Technology Raceway recently, Pourchaire says it’s best to remain patient about running the 500.
“It's a superspeedway, of course. A few weeks ago I was only here to drive in Long Beach, then I did Barber, then I didn't know what I was going to do.
I had my first oval test. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's really quick. It's the most important race of the year for every team. I think it's important to stay calm and I will have the time in the future to do this race, hopefully.”
The full-time INDYCAR ride also means Pourchiare will have to give up his seat in the Japanese SUPER FORMULA series.
“From now on, I will only race in INDYCAR because of course, as I said, an amazing opportunity to race there. It takes a lot of time. I have to focus myself right now fully on my INDYCAR program, and I'm not going to race anymore in Super Formula.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment
Both of Sauber’s current drivers in F1 will be out of contract at the end of the year. While Pourchaire still has F1 aspirations, he feels time is on his side, whether or not he’s being considered for a drive with Sauber next season.
“I'm only 20 years old, so I feel like I have still at least two, three years maybe to get another opportunity in F1, but right now I think that's for sure the biggest opportunity I got in my life, to be able to drive in INDYCAR. Right now I'm not thinking too much about F1, I'm thinking a lot about INDYCAR because it's an amazing opportunity, and driving for Arrow McLaren.
“I'm focused on that's my main priority to hopefully win here one day.”
Pourchaire has enjoyed racing in INDYCAR and the competitiveness of the series. If he were to stay in INDYCAR for his career, Pourchaire would be more than OK with that.
“For sure, for sure. For me, a few months ago, I didn't have anything before going to Japan and doing my first Super Formula race. I didn't have anything. I was a reserve driver in F1, which again, I say it, it's great, but I was not doing anything, just simulator and working in the gym and looking at the other drivers racing, whether in Formula 2, INDYCAR.
“Right now I'm full-time INDYCAR driver for Arrow McLaren, so I don't know, it's crazy, and for me, yeah, I would love to spend more time here.”