Theo Pourchaire faces a brand new problem following his IndyCar debut, going from the streets of Lengthy Seaside to the street course at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, who’s the reigning System 2 champion, will get his second flip racing for injured Arrow McLaren driver David Malukas on Sunday. He goes to a distinct facet of the nation and a a lot completely different course.

“For me, it was one thing new,” Pourchaire mentioned this week after McLaren mentioned he would race at Barber. “It was not straightforward to study, however in the long run I feel I tailored fairly rapidly to this championship, to this automotive, to the workforce. I nonetheless have a variety of issues to study, like for instance, this weekend it is going to be a brand new racetrack.

“I’ll nearly begin from zero. I’ve somewhat bit extra expertise now, so I really feel a bit extra assured.”

Additionally becoming a member of the sector for his first IndyCar race will likely be Luca Ghiotto, one other former System 2 driver who will helm Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 51 automotive this weekend and on the Indianapolis street course in two weeks.

Pourchaire had by no means earlier than pushed an Indy automotive till final weekend’s first follow session. He certified twenty second however completed eleventh, shifting up a race-high 11 spots, “which is unimaginable for my first IndyCar race.”

His introduction to the American open-wheel sequence got here with no observe time main as much as final Friday’s first follow at Lengthy Seaside. He had been in Indianapolis for a few weeks earlier than for a seat-fitting and to get acclimated with the workforce and spent at some point within the Chevrolet simulator in North Carolina.

Pourchaire continues to be adapting to features of IndyCar just like the longer size of the races and completely different gasoline methods. He expects to wish just a few laps on the 17-turn, 2.3-mile Barber observe to rise up to a aggressive pace beginning with Friday’s first follow session.

“I discovered a variety of issues” at Lengthy Seaside, Pourchaire mentioned. “How the automotive behaves on the racetrack like Lengthy Seaside was necessary for me to find. However it will likely be much more necessary to rediscover the automotive, I feel, in Barber, as a result of the observe is totally completely different.”

Ghiotto has seven profession F2 wins and has competed in sports activities vehicles since 2020.

“I’ve spent nearly all of my profession abroad however was all the time intrigued and eager to strive IndyCar,” Ghiotto mentioned in a press release. “It is going to be my first time driving this automotive and my first time at this observe, so there is a steep studying curve and problem forward of me, however I’m very a lot wanting ahead to it.”

He would be the third driver within the No. 51 this season. That automotive will likely be pushed by Katherine Legge for the Indianapolis 500.

The Related Press contributed to this report.