Another former Formula 1 driver set to make IndyCar debut
By Asher Fair
Former Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen is set to make his IndyCar debut in this Sunday afternoon’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America.
Following his accident in Saturday afternoon’s IndyCar race at Belle Isle Street Circuit, Arrow McLaren SP driver Felix Rosenqvist was forced to miss the second race of the weekend doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.
Oliver Askew was called upon as his replacement behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet, marking the first time the 29-year-old Swede has missed a race since he made his series debut in 2019.
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Rosenqvist is still not ready to compete in this Sunday’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America, but Askew is not available as his replacement.
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The 24-year-old Melbourne, Florida native had already been drafted as the replacement for another injured driver: Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay. VeeKay was injured in a cycling accident earlier this week and was not medically cleared to drive the #21 Chevrolet this weekend.
As a result, Arrow McLaren SP have turned to former Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen to pilot the #7 Chevrolet in Sunday afternoon’s 55-lap race around the 14-turn, 4.048-mile (6.515-kilometer) Road America natural terrain road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Magnussen has never competed in an IndyCar race before, and he is set to become the second former Formula 1 driver to make his series debut in 2021.
Felix will be replaced for the REV Group Grand Prix by Kevin Magnussen, who will be making his INDYCAR debut. Magnussen made 19 starts for the McLaren Formula 1 team in 2014, including a career-best finish of second at the Australian Grand Prix that year. pic.twitter.com/deZpO5a6E7
— Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team (@ArrowMcLaren) June 16, 2021
Making my @IndyCar debut this weekend in the @ArrowMcLarenSP! Standing in for @FRosenqvist while he recovers from his crash last week. Big challenge to go straight into a race having never driven an Indycar before but I couldn’t say no to the opportunity 🤩 Get well soon Felix 🙏🏻
— Kevin Magnussen (@KevinMagnussen) June 16, 2021
The 28-year-old Dane competed for McLaren in Formula 1 in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He spent the 2016 season with Renault before spending the next four seasons at Haas alongside Romain Grosjean.
Both he and Grosjean were released by the team after the 2020 season. Grosjean now competes in IndyCar for Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing behind the wheel of the #51 Honda, so both former Haas drivers are set to compete in Sunday’s race.
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Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network at 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 20 for the live broadcast of the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America.