Agustin Canapino will be taking a leave of absence for this weekend’s NTT IndyCar Series XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced June 7.
Nolan Siegel will drive the No. 78 Chevy in place of Canapino, who the team says has had a “very difficult experience” in the midst of online abuse stemming from an on-track incident at Detroit with Arrow McLaren driver Theo Pourchaire.
“Online abuse is unacceptable, and we need to ensure that our drivers are prepared both mentally and physically when they get in the car,” Juncos Hollinger Racing co-owner Brad Hollinger said in a team release. “We are saddened by the events that led to this scenario.”
Siegel has attempted to make two points paying IndyCar races this season for Dale Coyne Racing, failing to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 last month. He finished 20th in his series debut at Long Beach in April.
Pourchaire was the recipient of alleged social media abuse and death threats from fans of Canapino after the two made contact on lap 60 of Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, which saw Pourchaire penalized three positions for avoidable contact.
Arrow McLaren and JHR released a joint statement on Monday decrying “any form of abuse or discrimination” on social media.
JHR and Canapino released statements of their own on Tuesday, with Canapino questioning the validity of McLaren and Pourchaire’s claims of death threats.
“We Argentines are passionate and euphoric, but that doesn’t mean we should be accused of something we are not,” Canapino said. “Therefore, I strongly reject being generalized and placed in a category we don’t deserve.
“I have not seen a single death threat directed at those who claim to have received them. From last year to today, no one in their right mind would do such a thing. It’s outrageous to be accused of this so lightly, and I won’t allow it anymore.”
Arrow McLaren announced Thursday it had terminated their alliance with JHR, saying the decision had come following “actions that occurred earlier this week on social media in regards to an on-track incident at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.”
Canapino has a best finish of 12th in non-exhibition races this year.
The XPEL Grand Prix at Road America is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on June 9 with coverage on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
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