The 39-year-old veteran French racer has been absent from competitive racing since a harrowing incident during an IndyCar Series practice at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July.
Meyer Shank Racing, faced with no alternative, enlisted various substitutes for the remaining nine races out of the series’ seventeen cycles. Conor Daly, Tom Blomqvist, and Linus Lundqvist were tasked with steering the No. 60 Honda. As we approach 2024, Blomqvist has officially become the full-time pilot for the team.
In the meantime, Simon Pagenaud, the winner of the 2019 Indianapolis 500 and the 2016 IndyCar Series, dedicated the offseason to recovering his health.
In a health update shared on social media platforms and his personal website on Monday, Pagenaud reflected on the challenges of the past year:
“The year 2023 was a challenging one for me. As many of you may know, my racing season came to an abrupt halt on July 1 due to a severe accident during practice at Mid-Ohio. A brake failure in my vehicle led to me exiting the track after several high-speed rolls at 180 mph.
I am thankful to the IndyCar safety team for their professional handling of the aftermath and the immediate care provided to me.
The crash limited my participation to eight rounds in 2023, and since then, I’ve been focused on rehabilitation and working closely with a team of exceptional medical experts to achieve optimum health. I am making progress every day.
At this point, I cannot confirm whether I will resume racing in 2024 or if I am ready to do so. I am taking it slow to ensure that when I return, I come back at my best.
I want to express my gratitude for the messages of encouragement and, of course, to my family, friends, and team, who have been my pillars of strength throughout.
During this time of reflection and planning, I am also taking the opportunity to look back at my career and cherish the triumphs and memorable moments. However, let’s be clear: This is not the end; brighter days are yet to come! I hope everyone has a fantastic 2024!”