IndyCar veteran Simon Pagenaud will not return to racing in the series this year, having not been medically cleared to participate in either of the final two rounds, as per his team Meyer Shank Racing.
Pagenaud has been absent on medical grounds since a terrifying crash in Mid-Ohio practice in early July, unable to return to the cockpit due to what has been described as concussion-like symptoms.
He said in early August that the recovery was “taking longer than expected” but was working on being “back to 100% very soon”.
Regarding the announcement his IndyCar season was over, Pagenaud said he has made progress but was advised by doctors not to return to racing yet.
“The accident left me with lingering post-concussion symptoms. I am working hard to get back to 100 percent but this type of recovery is unique in time to each individual.
“I wish I could be out there doing what I love and driving my race car, but the accident was very violent and left me to focus on the task at hand: my health and recovery.”
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) August 28, 2023
Shank will field Tom Blomqvist, who made his IndyCar debut with the team back in Toronto and will race for MSR in the series full-time in 2024, in the Portland race and the Laguna Seca curtain-closer.
“Obviously the circumstances are quite tricky with Simon’s recovery and the whole situation surrounding the #60 car – I know the whole team and myself included are thinking about him as he recovers,” Blomqvist said.
“It’s a good thing to be getting these races under my belt before the season and working in preparation for my full programme in 2024.
“I got a brief test in Toronto under very challenging circumstances – without any real preparation whatsoever.
“Now I’ve got a little bit more understanding and knowledge and I’m hoping it’s going to be easier this time. I’m going to have the opportunity to get into the simulator and I know a little bit more of what to expect in terms of the way the weekend runs.
“I don’t know Portland at all and I know everyone has been racing flat-out in the summer. It’s still going to be an absolutely huge challenge. The series is so, so competitive and I am still new to these cars.
“Hopefully after these next two events I can be happy and put in some strong performances and go into winter break with more knowledge on the series and be able to build on this.”
Pagenaud, 39, joined Shank last year on the back of a seven-season Penske stint that yielded both an Indy 500 win and an IndyCar title.
Conor Daly and reigning Indy Lights champion Linus Lundqvist have been the other two drivers besides Blomqvist deputising for Pagenaud during his current absence.
Lundqvist did the three most recent races, and impressed enough to get himself into a position where he is now heavily tipped for a plum Ganassi seat for 2024.
It is not clear who will partner Blomqvist at MSR full-time next year, as Pagenaud returning hasn’t been ruled out – but the team was also thought to be eyeing Felix Rosenqvist, before Alex Palou’s Arrow McLaren U-turn potentially changed the Swede’s situation.
