Triple national Tom Blomqvist is being tipped to switch to the IndyCar Series in 2024, meaning one racing legend could be unseated.
Blomqvist will make his IndyCar debut in Toronto across July 15-17 in place of Simon Pagenaud, who was not deemed fit by the series’ medical officials after his monster crash.
Born in the United Kingdom to a Swedish father and New Zealand mother, the 29-year-old is firmly in the frame to drive full-time in the open-wheel series with Meyer Shank Racing.
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He already drives for the team as part of its sister program in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Ahead of the 29-year-old’s first start, Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi said enough has been spoken to suggest a full-time move is coming.
Speaking on his podcast – Off Track with Hinch and Rossi – the Andretti Autosport driver explained why.
“I mean, it certainly looks that way, but stranger things have happened,” said Rossi when asked if a full-time switch was looming.
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“There’s been enough noise around Tom. Tom is obviously a part of the family in the sense that he drives the 60 car for Meyer Shank (in IMSA).
“They know him very well. He’s expressed his interest in IndyCar. He’s testing in their Indy car, he’s done a good job in their Indy car, they like him, so it makes sense.
“I truly believe the only reason that he didn’t get the call at Mid-Ohio – no offence to Conor (Daly) – is just logistically, they couldn’t get Tom from where he was to Mid-Ohio quick enough.
“So the fact that it’s not an IMSA weekend and Simon, unfortunately, isn’t able to go again, it makes a lot of sense from a personnel standpoint.”
Unless Meyer Shank Racing expands to three cars in 2024 – something that appears unlikely at this stage – then either Pagenaud or his teammate Helio Castroneves would have to vacate their respective seats to facilitate Blomqvist.
The incumbents have been far from spectacular this year. Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves sits 20th while 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner Pagenaud is further afield in 25th, effectively third-to-last.
Castroneves has a season-best finish of 10th at Texas Motor Speedway while Pagenaud’s best effort is 13th on the streets of Detroit.
On that form guide, expectations should be low for Blomqvist – although he has two IMSA wins this year.
Not helping his cause is the Toronto course he’ll debut on is one he has not previously driven.
“The tricky thing is that’s a track he wouldn’t have been to before and that’s a helluva place to jump in for your first IndyCar race,” said 2016 Indianapolis 500 pole winner James Hinchcliffe.
“The challenge of that track in those cars is immense. I think he’s done two test days at a quote-unquote street circuit that we run at.
“It’s a tough situation but you’ve got to put someone in the car and if this is in fact something they’re gearing towards for next year, it makes sense to get him some experience so he doesn’t show up next year… he’ll at least know this place.”
The IndyCar Series takes to the streets of Toronto on July 15-17 with Stan Sport carrying coverage of practice, qualifying, and the race.
Coverage of the 85-lapper starts on Monday at 3:30am.
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