IndyCar driver change confirmed for Toronto race
By Asher Fair
Simon Pagenaud has not been medically cleared to compete in this Sunday’s IndyCar race on the streets of Toronto at Exhibition Place.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Simon Pagenaud was not medically cleared to compete in the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course two Sundays ago following a massive wreck in practice during which his No. 60 Honda barrel rolled seven times.
Conor Daly, who was recently dropped by Ed Carpenter Racing, was at the track already and ended up being called upon to replace him.
Upon further evaluation by the IndyCar medical team, Pagenaud has not been cleared to compete in this coming Sunday afternoon’s Honda Indy Toronto IndyCar race either.
Take a look at just how nasty the wreck was.
Pagenaud confirmed on social media that he won’t be competing this weekend.
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) July 11, 2023
Meyer Shank Racing IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Tom Blomqvist is set to replace Pagenaud behind the wheel of the No. 60 Honda this weekend.
https://twitter.com/MeyerShankRac/status/1678853223069757443
Diving straight into the deep end! Wishing Simon a speedy recovery and hoping he can get back behind the wheel soon. I’d like to thank Mike and Jim at MSR for this opportunity in @IndyCar it’s gonna be one heck of a challenge. Will go out there soak it all in and give it my all! pic.twitter.com/qyhXDlr0bx
— Tom Blomqvist (@tom_blomqvist) July 11, 2023
Tom Blomqvist has completed an IndyCar test before, but he has never competed in an actual race.
This Sunday afternoon’s 85-lap race around the 11-turn, 1.786-mile (2.874-kilometer) temporary street circuit in Toronto at Exhibition Place is set to mark his series debut.
The 29-year-old has long been linked to a potential full-time drive with Meyer Shank Racing for the 2024 season. Neither Pagenaud nor teammate Helio Castroneves are under contract beyond 2023.
The No. 60 Honda has finished no higher than 13th place this season, with that result coming on the streets of Detroit with Pagenaud behind the wheel. Daly finished in 20th as his replacement at Mid-Ohio.
The team’s top finish of what has been a disappointing season is only a 10th place effort, that being Castroneves’s best finish of 2023 at Texas Motor Speedway.
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The Honda Indy Toronto is the lone Peacock exclusive on the 2023 IndyCar schedule, meaning that it is only available for those who have purchased a subscription to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus. It is set to be shown live beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 16 from Exhibition Place.