Planes, trains and Pourchaire: Making a mad dash to Toronto

Arrow McLaren did its best to ensure Theo Pourchaire could make a transatlantic trip in time to qualify Alexander Rossi’s No. 7 Chevy after the American broke his thumb in a crash on Friday at the NTT IndyCar Series’ street race event in Toronto.

In announcing the Frenchman’s return to the team after being moved aside for Nolan Siegel in the No. 6 Chevy in June, Pourchaire set off on an adventure from his European home to Canada. All went according to plan as the 20-year-old arrived in the paddock with 62 minutes to spare.

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With an interesting travel story on its hands, Arrow McLaren starting tracking the process and Pourchaire’s movements, which it provided in a series of updates ahead of Saturday’s 2:45 p.m. ET qualifying session where he’ll learn the track while trying to set a fast time in the No. 7 entry.

Friday:

6:00 p.m. ET: Team announces Alexander Rossi will not race for the rest of the weekend.

6:10 p.m.: Arrow McLaren sporting director Tony Kanaan calls Pourchaire.

6:37 p.m.: Pourchaire’s flight is booked.

6:45 p.m.: Arrow McLaren shop manager Doug Tapscott picks up Pourchaire’s firesuit and seat, drives overnight to Toronto.

10:00 p.m.: Team engineers send on-board footage and race prep to Pourchaire.

Saturday:

12:00 a.m.: Pourchaire departs from Nice, France, for Frankfurt, Germany.

1:30 a.m.: Pourchaire lands in Frankfurt, debriefs and begins race prep with Kanaan.

4:00 a.m.: Pourchaire departs for Toronto, Kanaan heads to bed.

12:50 p.m.: Pourchaire will arrive to YYZ (Toronto), take the UP Express to Union Station downtown with crew member, car waiting to head to track.

1:22 p.m.: Pourchaire is in the car and en route to the circuit.

1:43 p.m.: Pourchaire arrives in the paddock and meets the team 62 minutes before the start of qualifying.