AJ Foyt Racing has announced that Santino Ferrucci will not compete in Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto event.
Ferrucci lost control of his #14 entry during the morning warmup session while attempting to turn laps on slick tires while the track had wet portions.
The car spun into the wall, then slid into the tire barriers a short time later, which damaged nearly every corner of the car’s suspension.
It seems the damage done goes beyond the suspension pieces, which can normally be swapped with relative ease, and the team has decided that it cannot safely repair the car in time for the race.
The team had three hours from the end of morning warmup until the start of the race in which repairs could have been made.
“We regret to announce that the #14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet will not bet repaired in time to compete in today’s race,” read the team’s statement.
“Following the incident in morning warmup, the damage sustained to the car requires extensive repairs that cannot be completed to the standard of safety and performance necessary to race.
“While this is a difficult decision for the team, the safety of our driver and crew remains our top priority. We want to thank our fans and partners for their understanding and continued support, and we look forward to returning to the track with the #14 next week.”
Reports indicate that Ferrucci also slightly injured his hand in the impact, which could have added further reasoning to the decision.
Ferrucci had been struggling all weekend and qualified down in 23rd position, but now he will watch from the sidelines.
The Honda Indy 200 will take place a noon eastern time with 26 cars on the grid.
