Theo Pourchaire, who was axed from McLaren just weeks after signing a long-term deal, has been given a shock IndyCar reprieve by the team.
Pourchaire has been called up by the team to replace Alexander Rossi after the driver of the #7 Chevrolet crashed at Turn 8 in practice for the Toronto race this weekend.
Rossi has been diagnosed with a broken thumb and is out of the weekend.
In his place, Pourchaire will drive for the team weeks after he was sacked from a contract, and claimed in an interview he was "disgusted" by his treatment.
The reigning F2 champion has since clarified that his comments were taken out of context and that he was misquoted.
Pourchaire replaced David Malukas early in the season after the latter suffered a pre-season wrist injury and was never able to drive for the team.
Callum Illot then drove the #6 machine for the Indy 500 with Pourchaire sitting out due to a lack of oval experience, but ahead of Laguna Seca, Pourchaire was dropped in favour of Nolan Siegel.
The Stake F1 junior has now been given a second chance by McLaren, replacing Rossi for the weekend, with the 2016 Indy 500 winner also departing the team at the end of the season.
"Following an on-track incident where Alexander Rossi sustained a broken right thumb, McLaren announces Theo Pourchaire to race the no.7 McLaren Chevrolet for the remainder of the Toronto race weekend," read a statement.
"Theo will arrive to the track ahead of qualifying on Saturday afternoon, missing practice 2 as he travels to Toronto from Europe.
"Alexander has returned to Indianapolis to begin his treatment and the team wishes him a quick recovery."
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