Grosjean: Joyful return to the podium 🎥
SECOND IN INDIANAPOLIS That was fast! In just his third race in the IndyCars, Romain Grosjean from Geneva celebrated his first podium at the Indianapolis GP circuit after leading for a long time. The highlights show how Romain Grosjean in the purple IndyCar #51 led for a long time before Rinus Veekay took the top spot from him. When the Indianapolis GP circuit was part [...]
The highlights show how Romain Grosjean in the purple IndyCar #51 led for a long time before Rinus Veekay took the top spot from him.
When the Indianapolis GP circuit was part of the Formula 1 calendar (until 2007), Romain Grosjean was not yet a member of the premier class. The Geneva native, who competes for France, only got to know the circuit last week.
Two weeks before the 500-mile race at the oval speedway, the IndyCars started their fifth championship race in the noodle pot at the GP circuit combined with an infield, with Grosjean returning to action after absences from the two oval races in Texas.
First pole position since 2011
With pole position - his first since the GP2 race in Istanbul exactly ten years ago - the French-Swiss driver indicated that he already has an excellent command of the Dallara Indy V6 turbos.
Romain Grosjean: "With its long straights and hard braking zones, the Indy GP circuit is more similar to a European track than Alabama and St. Petersburg, where I first drove in the IndyCars. That's why I immediately got up to speed here."
Five different run winners
Apart from the pit stops, Grosjean led the field from the start. However, he was unable to slow the forward momentum of the young Dutchman Rinus Veekay. On the 65th of 85 laps, Veekay took command and won his first IndyCar race with a five-second lead over rookie Grosjean.
Veekay is already the fifth different winner this season. There's no question that Romain Grosjean could soon join this list as well.
Happier than I have been in eight years
Six months after the fire accident in Bahrain that ended his GP career, Grosjean was almost more celebrated by the crowd than the beaming winner from the Netherlands - the first since Robert Dornboos in 2007.
The 35-year-old Geneva native admitted that he was really enjoying himself and feeling joy for the first time since his time with Lotus in Formula 1, when he claimed six podiums in 2013.
Romain Grosjean: "I feel happier than I have in a long time. I love driving this race car and I enjoy this atmosphere. On the track, we're tough opponents, but as soon as the helmets come off, I feel a friendship among the drivers that I don't know from anywhere else."
Indy 500 yes or no?
His Dale Coyne Racing car will be driven by Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi at the Indy 500. Grosjean will watch the biggest race in the USA on TV at home.
Enamored by the atmosphere at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he no longer completely rules out a future start at the Indy 500, although in consultation with his family he had spoken out against oval race starts for safety reasons.
Romain Grosjean: "You should never say never. We take it step by step. My family is super supportive, but it wasn't so easy for them to see me racing again. They now see how happy I am in IndyCars. So I'm not saying yes or no to the Indy 500 right now."
Return of Simona de Silvestro
This begins on May 18 with the first of a total of eight practice days. Qualifying is on May 22 and 23, the race on May 30.
As reported, Simona de Silvestro will be competing for the first time since 2015 and, unlike Romain Grosjean, will also represent her fatherland as a race driver. She was second on the IndyCar podium at the Houston GP on October 5, 2013.
