ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Agustín Canapino took a leave of absence from IndyCar racing after rejecting the fact that rival driver Théo Pourchaire had received death threats from Canapino fans over an on-track incident between the two.
Canapino will not race this weekend at Road America in Wisconsin, and Juncos Hollinger Racing has replaced him with rookie Nolan Siegel.
“Online abuse is unacceptable and we need to ensure our drivers are prepared both mentally and physically when they get in the car,” Brad Hollinger, co-owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing, said in a statement. “We are saddened by the events that led to this scenario.”
The decision comes a day after Arrow McLaren Racing ended its technical and marketing relationship with JHR due to the fiasco. Pourchaire is the current F2 champion recently signed by McLaren.
JHR did not specify how much time Canapino will miss.
Pourchaire and Canapino had contact last Sunday on a restart in Detroit that led to an avoidable contact penalty for the 20-year-old Frenchman. Pourchaire later said that he had received death threats from Canapino fans, which Canapino denied, saying he had seen no evidence.
Pourchaire said Monday that he received threatening messages on social media after Detroit.
“I am saddened to have received so much hate and death threats in the last 24 hours for such a small incident at the Detroit Grand Prix,” Pourchaire wrote on X on Monday. “I hope people understand that we are all human and can make mistakes. But it’s not okay to abuse people online. Please be kind to each other.
Arrow McLaren and Juncos Hollinger issued a joint statement Monday saying they “will not tolerate any form of abuse or discrimination. Those who participate in such actions are not welcome in our online community.”
Canapino, 34 years old release your own statement saying “of course, I am against abuse and hatred”, but disputed that his fans had made death threats to Pourchaire.
“We Argentines are passionate and euphoric, but that doesn’t mean we should be accused of something we are not,” Canapino said. “Therefore, I strongly reject being generalized and placed in a category that we do not deserve.
“I have not seen a single death threat directed at anyone who claims to have received them. From last year to today, no one in their right mind would do such a thing. It is outrageous to be accused of this so lightly and I will no longer allow it.”
Canapino’s statement also appeared to offer Pourchaire advice on how to deal with online criticism.
“I constantly receive abuse and hate, and I have learned to live with it like many people do, choosing to ignore it,” Canapino said. “There is nothing sadder and more miserable than hiding behind social media to insult others.”
Arrow McLaren then announced Thursday, “it terminated its commercial alliance with Juncos Hollinger Racing, with immediate effect”. The partnership announced last October was a technical and marketing alliance designed to help the two teams support each other, while McLaren helped underdog Juncos in its growth.
Callum Ilott reported last year that he received abuse from Canapino fans when the two drivers were Juncos Hollinger Racing teammates. Juncos Hollinger and Ilott split at the end of last season.
This week, Canapino liked a social media post that referred to Pourchaire as “Callum Pourchaire.”
“The growth of online abuse and harassment resulting from this week’s events has led to a very difficult experience for Agustín, the team and the entire IndyCar fan base, and the safety of Agustín and the rest of the competitors must be considered first and foremost. above all,” said Juncos Hollinger Racing in the statement announcing Canapino’s departure.
“Abuse, hate and harassment in any form are harmful to the sport and we must prioritize the physical and mental well-being of our drivers and our competitors.”
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
