IndyCar's Santino Ferrucci Won't Race In Toronto After Crash In Warmup

Forbes

5 days ago

Crewmembers from AJ Foyt Racing go over the damage on Santino Ferrucci's No. 14 Chevrolet on July 20 ... More at Toronto's Exhibition Place.
TORONTO – IndyCar Series driver Santino Ferrucci crashed in Sunday Morning Warmup at Toronto's Exhibition Place and damaged his No. 14 Chevrolet so bad, it won't be able to compete in Sunday's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy 200.
Ferrucci crashed in Turn 8 with 3 minutes left in the session after setting the third-fastest time in the warmup.
Ferrucci also injured his wrist from the impact and according to AJ Foyt Racing spokesperson Anne Fornoro, it is not fractured, but he wrist is swollen. Ferrucci was checked and released from INDYCAR Medical and was seen in the team's paddock area talking to team president Larry Foyt while holding an ice bag to his wrist.
According to Ferrucci, the Hybrid assist was engaged when he entered the turn and with the Firestone Black primary tire, it carried too much speed into Turn 8.
Ferrucci was on a hot streak entering Sunday's race but will be forced to sit this one out because of the damage to the car and not enough time to repair it.
Ferrucci Car Totaled
AJ Foyt Racing President Larry Foyt revealed Ferrucci was cleared to drive in Sunday's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, but the No. 14 Chevrolet was 'totaled' in the crash in Turn 8 that ended Sunday morning warmup.
Ferrucci sustained an injured right wrist but did not suffer a fracture.
The car, however, didn't fare as well.
'His hand took a pretty good hit in the cockpit,' Foyt said. 'The X -rays were negative. He was cleared to drive, but sure, could we get a car out there? Possibly. But I don't want to push him either. I'd rather get focused on Laguna.
Larry Foyt (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)
'It would have been hard for us to get out there anyway. That car was really heavily damaged. The backup car here obviously and it's a quick turn between this warm -up and the race.
'That car is not repairable for today.'
Ferrucci entered the weekend 10th in the championship, with 237 points. Teammate David Malukas also has 237 points, but Ferrucci gets the position based on tiebreaker.
'It is a bummer because fighting for a top 10 in the championship, this is a pretty big blow, but we just, we feel like the last four races are still really strong for us and for him,' Foyt said. 'We are not going to give up on trying to get back in the top 10.
'This is racing, and things happen and it's, it's part of it. It's fortunate. It's a hard part. I don't know why Toronto seems like doesn't like the 14 car. Two years in a row
we've had a big one here, but just unfortunate. It happens. I know he feels bad. The team feels bad but we'll, we'll be back next week.'
Next weekend's race is in Monterey, California and Foyt believed it was better to properly prepare the backup car for that race instead of a rush job in a limited period of time to compete at Toronto.
'It's probably easier to say what isn't damaged,' Foyt said of the car. 'It got into the crash structure of the tub, which is a lengthy thing, so you'd be going to a backup car no matter what at that point. And there's still, diagnosing the engine and all those things.
'There were still a lot of things that that had to happen if we were going to try to get out to push out, which is in an hour. So, it's a tough decision because we all come here to race.
'I think for the team, for our situation right now, just getting ready, we have a quick turn to go to Laguna, and we need to do well there. So let Santino rest up, let the guys take their time, get the backup car prepared and go there.'
To complicate matters, IndyCar is currently in race No. 4 of a five races in four weekend stretch that began on July 6 at Mid-Ohio, continued with a doubleheader last weekend at Iowa Speedway, moved to Toronto and concludes in California next week.
Foyt admitted that was another factor in waiting to put Ferrucci back in another car on Sunday.
'Especially a big one like that where it's pretty much totaled that's a tough one to rebound from given the quick turnaround,' Foyt said.
Santino Ferrucci