INDIANAPOLIS — Arrow McLaren named reigning F2 champion Théo Pourchaire because the everlasting alternative driver for the injured David Malukas on Thursday.

Pourchaire takes over the No. 6 Chevrolet for Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix and can compete in all remaining IndyCar Sequence races excluding this month’s Indianapolis 500. A scheduling battle for Indy’s qualifying weekend, Could 18-19, will stop him from driving within the sequence’ largest race.

Callum Ilott, who changed Malukas on this season’s first two IndyCar races and accomplished April’s open check on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval, is anticipated to run within the 500. Ilott, who’s English, began every of the final two 500s, ending thirty second as a rookie and twelfth final season.

Pourchaire made his IndyCar debut at Lengthy Seaside and completed eleventh earlier than returning to the cockpit at Barber Motorsports Park. He additionally did a check session Monday on IndyCar’s oval observe close to St. Louis.

“I am excited to tackle this problem with Arrow McLaren for the remainder of the season,” Pourchaire stated in a press release. “It is a particular alternative, and I’m dedicated to studying and bettering as we get on observe every race weekend. I’ve loved my first two races with the workforce, and I do know now we have loads of potential in entrance of us.”

The 20-year-old French driver received one race and two poles whereas posting 10 podium finishes final season on the European-based F2 circuit. He additionally received sequence titles in 2018 and 2019.

Pourchaire replaces Malukas, who was dropped by the workforce April 29. He didn’t begin a race this season after struggling a dislocated his wrist and torn tendons in an offseason mountain bike crash.

However Arrow will now give attention to getting Pourchaire on top of things on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile highway course. Follow and qualifying are scheduled for Friday. The race is scheduled to be run Saturday.

“We’re excited to proceed working with Theo. He proved to be a fast learner, and we imagine his skillset and studying mindset will help his improvement as he will get extra comfy racing within the NTT IndyCar Sequence,” workforce principal Gavin Ward stated. “Now, it is about persevering with to develop and turning these learnings into outcomes alongside the No. 6 workforce.”