Agustin Canapino’s time as an NTT IndyCar Sequence driver has come to an finish.
The a number of Argentinian touring automobile champion, who impressed the racing world along with his speedy adaptation to a brand new and daunting type of racing upon becoming a member of Juncos Hollinger Racing in 2023, has reached an settlement with the group to vacate the No. 78 Chevy with quick impact. He’s anticipated to renew his touring automobile profession in Argentina, and his alternative for the ultimate 5 races of the season has not been named.
The choice comes after a string of poor outcomes for Canapino, which has positioned the No. 78 entry in jeopardy of failing to land considered one of IndyCar’s $1 million Leaders Circle contracts. Presently twenty third in an entrants’ championship the place solely the highest 22 within the ultimate standings are awarded contracts, Canapino’s run from Mid-Ohio by means of the doubleheader in Iowa to newest race in Toronto delivered outcomes of twenty second, twenty seventh, twenty fifth and twenty sixth within the 27-car fields.
Of observe, the No. 78 failed to complete the final three races, which widened its hole to creating it inside the highest 22 within the entrants’ championship. Canapino’s final race for JHR additionally demonstrated the 34-year-old’s progress as he certified a career-best tenth earlier than making contact with Scott Dixon within the race, hitting the wall, and retiring.
“After a momentous rookie and second season in IndyCar, Juncos Hollinger Racing and Agustin Canapino have mutually determined to half methods,” learn a press release issued by the group.
“We commend Agustin for taking the leap into open-wheel racing with us over the past yr and a half, not solely studying a very new fashion of racing from his spectacular and storied profession, but additionally transferring to the U.S. and studying the language to affix our sequence.
“Each Agustin and the group have labored tirelessly to be taught, develop, and succeed all through his time at JHR, and we’re extraordinarily happy with what now we have achieved collectively. We thank Agustin for his time at Juncos Hollinger Racing and can be cheering him on as he continues his journey. Gracias, Agustin!”
In 2023, and whereas dealing with the identical Leaders Circle considerations, Canapino put in a stirring efficiency on the final spherical in Laguna Seca, the place his 14th-place end was sufficient to make sure the No. 78 secured a $1 million contract. Largely bereft of sponsorship this season, JHR’s have to earn one other contract for the No. 78 is extra urgent than ever. Teammate Romain Grosjean and the sister No. 77 Chevy are safely within the high 22.
The relative absence of sponsor logos has made it crucial for the No. 78 to complete the season contained in the Leaders Circle. Joe Skibinski/IMS Photograph
With 4 of the 5 remaining races held on ovals, IndyCar veteran and oval specialist Conor Daly was drafted in to check in Canapino’s place final Thursday at World Extensive Know-how Raceway and is anticipated to be atop the group’s listing of drivers to maneuver the No. 78 into Leaders Circle competition. Freed from different racing conflicts, the brief ovals at WWTR and the doubleheader at Milwaukee, together with the season finale on the 1.33-mile Nashville Speedway oval, could be a pure match for Daly’s experience.
The departure of Canapino brings an finish to considered one of IndyCar’s most fascinating and sometimes turbulent tales.
A complete open-wheel novice, Canapino didn’t spend a yr studying in Indy NXT, however somewhat, went straight to IndyCar as a part of a plan — a long-held dream — original by Juncos to convey the touring automobile legend to America. Though the wave of sponsorship from Argentinian sponsors by no means materialized to the diploma that was desired, JHR ran Canapino by means of a rookie marketing campaign that featured outstanding Twelfth-place finishes on his debut in St. Petersburg and once more at Texas Motor Speedway at his first oval race.
The fairytale begin took an unpleasant flip on the subsequent race when a few of Canapino’s followers went on the assault towards his teammate Callum Ilott, harassing the Briton and his household with menacing direct messages and dying threats. A second incident, this time to shut his rookie yr at Laguna Seca, finally broke the connection between JHR and Ilott who break up with the group and was changed by Grosjean.
A contemporary begin with the Swiss-born Frenchman gave JHR a clear slate to work from in 2024, and whereas Canapino’s ends in his sophomore season had been barely improved, the better situation was the continued lack of sponsorship to fund each vehicles. Leaving the Indianapolis 500 on the finish of Could, Grosjean was sixteenth within the drivers’ championship, Canapino was twentieth, and the potential for enchancment was excessive.
Sadly, rocky occasions returned on the subsequent race in Detroit, the place Arrow McLaren’s Theo Pourchaire hit Canapino’s automobile. Pourchaire, who was penalized by IndyCar for the incident, went on to complete tenth to Canapino’s Twelfth, and a repeat of the 2023 on-line assaults from his followers — this time aimed on the Frenchman — sparked a spiraling state of affairs that may ultimately lead to Arrow McLaren severing its enterprise relationship with JHR on account of Canapino’s poor dealing with of the state of affairs. JHR additionally pulled Canapino from the automobile hours earlier than the beginning of follow on the subsequent occasion in Highway America.
Having refuted Pourchaire’s claims of receiving dying threats and stoked among the boorish habits whereas responding to among the important social media posts aimed on the Arrow McLaren driver, the group noticed a regarding change in Canapino’s demeanor at Highway America, and did a deal to place Nolan Siegel within the automobile. Sidelined, Canapino spent the subsequent few days rethinking his method to what passed off with Ilott and Pourchaire, confirmed contrition to the group and followers of the sequence, and was allowed to proceed for the remainder of the season.
Because of the persistent fundraising struggles, Canapino was not anticipated to return to the No. 78 in 2025. And with the heightened want to enhance its level hauls to lock in $1 million from the sequence for the automobile subsequent yr, the decision was made to make the change now, attempt to tackle its Leaders Circle situation, and entertain choices for who — possible amongst candidates who convey funding — would possibly drive the automobile on a full-time foundation subsequent yr.
