NTT IndyCar Series rookie Theo Pourchaire has received more than a dozen threatening direct messages since he crashed into the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevy driven by Argentina’s Agustin Canapino with his No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevy on lap 60 of the 100-lap Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Frenchman went unpunished by IndyCar for the hit, which resulted in his No. 6 Chevy taking eighth at the time while Canapino fell to ninth and eventually finished 12th. Pourchaire was credited with 10th at the checkered flag.
I’m sad I received so much hate and death threats in the last 24 hours for such a small incident in the Detroit GP.
I hope people can understand that we are all humans and we can make mistakes. But it’s not normal to abuse people online..
Please be kind to each other 🙏🏻🫶🏻 https://t.co/JWKU2IYEFF
— Théo Pourchaire (@TPourchaire) June 3, 2024
Pourchaire made his team aware of the first wave of threats, believed to be from fans of Canapino, hours after the race, and awoke to more threats of physical violence on Monday morning.
Adding to the complications is the new business relationship forged between Arrow McLaren and Juncos Holling Racing, which allows Arrow McLaren to place logos on the rear wheel ramps of JHRs cars when it has extra sponsorship inventory and is unable to fit them on its three cars.
The latest incident with social media threats marks the third related to on-track clashes involving Canapino. The first, in April of 2023, was aimed by fans at his then-teammate Callum Ilott at Long Beach. The second, also involving Ilott, took place in September at Monterey.
The teams issued a joint statement on social media in response to the matter:
Arrow McLaren and @juncoshollinger will not tolerate any form of abuse or discrimination. Those participating in such actions are not welcome in our online community.
Arrow McLaren and @juncoshollinger will not tolerate any form of abuse or discrimination. Those participating in such actions are not welcome in our online community.
— Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team (@ArrowMcLaren) June 3, 2024
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