Canapino return to IndyCar? “Something can occur,” says Juncos

There’s a risk of Agustin Canapino returning to the IndyCar Sequence as a part of a one-off effort in a 3rd entry with Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) for the 2025 version of the Indianapolis 500. 

The 34-year-old Argentine mutually parted methods with JHR final month after a string of 5 consecutive finishes of 18th or worse – with the final 4 outcomes being twenty second or decrease – that put the No. 78 Chevrolet entry one spot out of the highest 22 of the coveted $1 million Leaders Circle. 

The staff elected to name on Conor Daly as his alternative for the ultimate 5 races and has since elevated the entry to nineteenth within the Leaders Circle standings, with this weekend’s season finale at Nashville Superspeedway the one impediment to safe the prize cash.

It was no secret that the drama adopted Canapino, a multi-time touring automobile champion in his dwelling nation, all through his brief tenure in North America’s premier open-wheel championship. Earlier this 12 months, he was on the middle of controversy for his actions on social media that included a press release rejecting claims that his supporters threatened rivals, which got here in wake of colliding with intermittent Arrow McLaren rookie Theo Pourchaire on the Detroit Grand Prix. That resulted in backlash that left him sitting out of the next spherical at Highway America, with the staff citing psychological well being causes. The incident with Pourchaire ultimately led to a press release by Canapino condemning on-line abuse. 

By then, although, the scenario already led to the termination of a strategic alliance between Juncos Hollinger Racing and Arrow McLaren, which was shaped in October 2023. 

It was the third time a driver flagged social media abuse after a run-in with Canapino, with Callum Ilott sharing his testimony after a number of clashes (Lengthy Seaside, Laguna Seca) whereas the 2 had been teammates through the 2023 season.

Though Canapino scored a greatest end of twelfth on 4 events (2023 – St. Petersburg, Texas, Toronto; 2024 – Detroit) in 28 profession begins, he was in rivalry for a high 10 – probably high 5 outing – at this 12 months’s Indy 500 earlier than it was negated by a rushing violation on the ultimate pit cease on lap 173 of 200. 

Agustín Canapino, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Pictures

Contemplating that efficiency, the query was posed to JHR co-owner Ricardo Juncos if he would entertain bringing again Canapino as a part of a 3rd entry of the Indy 500. 

“It is too early for that, however something can occur,” Juncos informed Motorsport.com. 

“I all the time say the identical factor: 22 years in the past I had nothing in Argentina, I used to be broke. And look the place we’re immediately. On the planet and in life, issues occur for the higher and for the more serious. Alternatives seem whenever you least anticipate it.

“Clearly, what Agustín did within the 500 miles, each years, he confirmed excessive velocity working alone, he confirmed technical management which is essential to guide the engineer, which is what is required within the automobile to be quick with regards to qualifying as he did this 12 months. After which within the race I feel Agustin did all the things proper. He made the error of getting into the pits like (Scott) Dixon has, that’s, champion drivers have made the identical mistake sooner or later of their sports activities careers. So we won’t blame him for something both. 

“Sadly luck was missing, however Agustín was able to struggle the race. 

“Are you able to think about that if we might be within the scenario of placing collectively a 3rd automobile and Agustin was accessible, desperate to race, in my opinion we’re shifting ahead and one by no means is aware of, however properly, there’s a lengthy solution to go. I feel we have now to go step-by-step, focus on what’s coming within the brief time period and from there see what destiny has in retailer.”