IndyCar News: Siegel Steps in for Canapino at Juncos Hollinger Racing
In a surprise move, 19-year-old California native Nolan Siegel has been called up by Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) to replace Agustin Canapino in the team’s Chevrolet-powered No. 78 entry for the IndyCar 2023 season. The sudden change occurred on Friday, following a tumultuous week for Canapino, who took a “leave of absence” amidst controversy surrounding his social media activity.
Canapino’s Controversy and Alliance Termination
The Argentine driver, in his second season competing in North America’s premier open-wheel championship, faced backlash after a collision with Arrow McLaren’s Theo Pourchaire at the Detroit Grand Prix. This led to the termination of the strategic alliance between Arrow McLaren and JHR, formed last October.
Siegel’s IndyCar Debut
In the 90 minutes between the autograph session and the opening practice for the IndyCar Series, Siegel was fitted for his Juncos seat and went on to log 18 laps around the 4.014-mile, 14-turn Road America circuit. He ended up 26th on the leaderboard, having previously made two IndyCar starts this year with Dale Coyne Racing, including the non-points exhibition at The Thermal Club.
Siegel’s Indy NXT Commitment
As a result of his IndyCar opportunity, Siegel has pulled out of the Indy NXT round to dedicate his focus to the upcoming IndyCar chance. He currently sits third in the Indy NXT championship standings, trailing leader Jacob Abel by 44 points (221-177).
“HMD Motorsports fully supports Nolan in prioritizing his IndyCar efforts for this weekend and wishes him the best of luck in this opportunity,” a statement from HMD Motorsports read.
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