TORONTO — Santino Ferrucci will not compete in Sunday’s (July 20) Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto following a crash at the exit of turn 7 in Sunday morning’s warmup session.
Ferrucci will sit out, as the No. 14 AJ Foyt Enterprises team is unable to repair the car in time for the start of the event.
Ferrucci was treated and released from the care center and was seen icing his hand following the crash, but he did not break any bones and was cleared to race. Team Principal Larry Foyt provided further insight in the decision to sit out Toronto.
“(Santino’s) hand took a pretty good hit in the cockpit,” Foyt explained. “The X-rays were negative, he was cleared to drive, but sure, could we get a car out there? Possibly, but I don’t want to push him either.
“I’d rather be focused on Laguna (next week). It would be hard for us to get out there anyway, that car was really heavily damaged. The backup car here is just a quick turn between this warmup and the race.”
“I don’t know if (racing) is worth it,” Ferrucci told Frontstretch after exiting the care center. “Honestly we’re doing so good in the championship, if something happens and I hurt it again, then you’re out for more of the season. …
“Obviously I’m disappointed. No one to blame but myself on that one. But like I said, mistakes happen, and I haven’t had something like this since 2021; it’s been a long time. Today’s going to hurt, tomorrow just as much. But by the time we’re driving and going to Laguna, mindset’s reset.”
Ferrucci was scheduled to start 23rd and had entered the weekend 10th in NTT IndyCar Series points.
Stephen Stumpf is the NASCAR Content Director for Frontstretch and is a three-year veteran of the site. His weekly column is “Stat Sheet,” and he formerly wrote "4 Burning Questions" for three years. He also writes commentaries, contributes to podcasts, edits articles and is frequently at the track for on-site coverage.
Find Stephen on Twitter @stephen_stumpf