Arrow McLaren added another chapter to its season of misfortune as Alexander Rossi’s crash late in Friday’s practice session left the No. 7 Chevy in a state of disrepair and the Californian with an injury to his hand that will force him out of the car for the remainder of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto event.
“Following an incident that resulted in contact with the Turn 8 wall during Practice 1 of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Grand Prix, Alexander Rossi was seen and released by IndyCar medical. The incident resulted in a broken right thumb. Alexander will be unable to compete this weekend. Arrow McLaren will announce who will pilot the No. 7 Ryde Arrow McLaren Chevrolet the remainder of this weekend once confirmed.”
Late in the session, Rossi overshot the apex at Turn 8, clipped the tire barrier, then smashed into the wall with the left-front corner of the car, which crumpled its suspension, broke the front wings, and produced a whipping motion with the steering wheel as the tire impacted the barrier.
.@AlexanderRossi was seen and released following this contact with tire wall in practice. pic.twitter.com/5gZ4k9PMeQ
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) July 19, 2024
“First of all, I’m very thankful for all the men and women on the IndyCar Medical team and for all the great work they do,” Rossi said. “I do have a broken right thumb. It’s unfortunate because the injury occurred when I almost made it around the corner and I didn’t want to give up on it, so I didn’t quite get my hands off the wheel in time. However, everyone seems optimistic about the kind of injury it is. We’re going to take the next steps here and get ready for Gateway.”
Rossi’s former teammate David Malukas, who was unable to race for Arrow McLaren after injuring his hand and wrist in a preseason cycling crash, spent the opening four races on the sidelines before being released and replaced by a blend of Callum Ilott and Theo Pourchaire before Nolan Siegel was signed to drive the No. 6 Chevy on a multi-year deal.
The team arrived in Toronto with heavy hearts after losing Bob Jeffrey, the spotter for Pato O’Ward’s No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevy, to cancer.