Tom Blomqvist will make his NTT IndyCar Series debut in Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 60 Dallara-Honda in place of Simon Pagneaud, who still is waiting to be cleared for racing while recovering from his horrifying crash at Mid-Ohio.
Pagneaud was replaced by Conor Daly for the July 2 race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, one day after barrel-rolling in “the wildest crash of his career.”
“After undergoing further medical evaluation this week under the care of the IndyCar medical team, I have not been cleared to race,” the 2019 Indy 500 winner and 2016 series champion posted in a tweet. “While I feel good, I am still recovering. With back-to-back races, there just wasn’t enough time to allow my body to fully recover in time to compete this weekend. I will continue to follow the medical team’s recommendations so I can be back racing soon. Thank you everyone for your support.”
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Blomqvist joined Meyer Shank Racing’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship team before the 2022 season. He teamed with Pagenaud on the team’s Acura that has won the past two Rolex 24 at Daytona titles
Blomqvist also won last year’s championship in IMSA’s premier prototype category. Last week, he earned the pole position and teamed with Colin Braun for the victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
“We’re obviously still working to get Simon as healthy as possible,” team owner Mike Shank said in a release. “He is feeling fine and is ready to get back in the car once he is cleared. The decision to put Tom in the car was an easy one. He’s coming off of an IMSA win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last weekend and I have all the confidence in the world putting him in our Indy car.”
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Blomqvist is interested in eventually transitioning to an IndyCar career and tested a Dallara-Honda with the MSR IndyCar team last October. He also has won in various formula car series in Europe.
“First and foremost, I’m thinking of Simon and hoping that he recovers as quickly as possible so that he can get back behind the wheel,” he said in a release. “I have to thank (co-owners) Mike and Jim (Meyer) for considering me to fill in this weekend. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what IndyCar has to offer. Diving straight into the deep end is an understatement after only having one test in the MSR Indy car last year.
“I’m excited but aware of the challenges getting up to speed during a race weekend, so I’m not putting any pressure on myself. Just going to go out there soak it all in and give it all I’ve got.”
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
