ELKHART LAKE, WI — Agustín Canapino has taken a leave of absence from IndyCar racing after rival driver Théo Pourchaire denied receiving death threats from Canapino fans following a track incident between the two.
Canapino will not race at Road America in Wisconsin this weekend, with Juncos Hollinger Racing replacing him with rookie Nolan Siegel.
“Online abuse is unacceptable and we need to make sure our drivers are prepared both mentally and physically when they get in the car,” Brad Hollinger, co-owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing, said in a statement. “We are saddened by the events that led to this scenario.”
The decision comes a day after Arrow McLaren Racing terminated its technical and marketing relationship with JHR due to the failure. Pourchaire is an F2 champion recently hired by McLaren.
JHR did not specify how much time Canapino would miss.
Pourchaire and Canapino made contact during last Sunday’s restart in Detroit, which resulted in the 20-year-old Frenchman receiving an unavoidable contact penalty. Pourchaire later said he had received death threats from Canapino fans, which Canapino denied, saying he had seen no evidence.
Pourchaire said he received threatening messages on social media after Detroit on Monday.
“It’s sad that I’ve received so much hate and death threats in the last 24 hours over a small incident at the Detroit GP,” Pourchaire wrote to X on Monday. “I hope people can understand that we are all human and we all make mistakes. But abusing people online is not normal. Please be kind to one another.”
Arrow McLaren and Juncos Hollinger issued a joint statement Monday saying, “We will not tolerate any form of abuse or discrimination. People who engage in such behavior are not welcome in our online community.”
Canapino, 34, said in a statement: “Of course I am against abuse and hatred,” but disputed that his fans had made death threats towards Pourcere.
“We Argentines are passionate and happy. But that doesn’t mean we should be blamed for something we’re not,” Canapino said. “Therefore, I strongly reject being generalized and placing us in categories that we do not deserve.
“I have never seen a single death threat directed at the people who claim to have received it. No one in their right mind since last year would have done something like that. “It is absurd to criticize so lightly, and I will not tolerate it any longer,” he said.
Canapino’s statement also appeared to offer Pourchaire advice on how to deal with online criticism.
“I am constantly subjected to abuse and hate, and like many people, I have learned to live with it and choose to ignore it,” Canapino said. “There is nothing more sad and miserable than hiding behind social media and insulting others.”
Arrow McLaren announced on Thursday that it has “terminated its commercial partnership with Juncos Hollinger Racing, effective immediately.” The partnership, announced last October, was a technical and marketing alliance designed to allow the two teams to rely on each other, with McLaren helping the underdog Juncos grow.
Callum Ilott reported last year that he received abuse from Canapino fans when the two drivers were Juncos Hollinger Racing teammates. Juncos Hollinger and Ilott parted ways at the end of last season.
This week, Canapino liked a social media post calling Pourchaire “Callum Pourchaire.”
“The increase in online abuse and harassment resulting from this week’s incidents has resulted in an extremely difficult experience for Agustín, the team and the entire IndyCar fan base, and the safety of Agustín and the rest of our competitors must be our top priority. “First and foremost,” Juncos Hollinger Racing said in a statement announcing Canapino’s leave.
“Abuse, hatred and bullying in any form are detrimental to the sport and we must prioritize the mental and physical well-being of both drivers and competitors.”
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