By: Spencer Neff
July 11,2023

Following his practice crash ten days ago at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Simon Pagenaud has not been cleared by INDYCAR Medical staff to participate in this weekend’s Honda Indy Toronto.

After Meyer Shank Racing tapped Conor Daly to drive the No. 60 car, the team will look internally for a fill-in driver this weekend.

Tom Blomqvist will make his INDYCAR debut at the Honda Indy Toronto this weekend. Blomqvist won last year’s IMSA SportsCar Championship at MSR with Olivier Jarvis.

“We’re obviously still working to get Simon as healthy as possible,” Car Co-Owner Michael Shank noted on Tuesday.

“He is feeling fine and is ready to get back in the car once he is cleared. The decision to put Tom in the car was an easy one. He’s coming off of an IMSA win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last weekend and I have all the confidence in the world putting him in our Indy car.”

The Cambridge, England born Swede also spent much of his junior career in New Zealand. Aside from IMSA as well as other international sports and touring car racing series, Blomqvist ran various Formula E races across three seasons from 2017 to 2021.

“First and foremost, I’m thinking of Simon and hoping that he recovers as quickly as possible so that he can get back behind the wheel,” Blomqvist expressed in today’s announcement.

“I have to thank (Team Co-Owners) Mike (Shank) and Jim (Meyer) for considering me to fill in this weekend. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what IndyCar has to offer. Diving straight into the deep end is an understatement after only having one test in the MSR Indy car last year. I’m excited but aware of the challenges getting up to speed during a race weekend, so I’m not putting any pressure on myself. Just going to go out there soak it all in and give it all I’ve got.”

Blomqvist has also worked with INDYCAR teammate Hélio Castroneves, winning the last two editions of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 29-year-old also tested an INDYCAR with Meyer Shank at Sebring in October. He will be the first driver since Jack Harvey (2017 Indianapolis 500) to make their INDYCAR debut with Meyer Shank Racing.