Be competitive “like being alive again!”

Grosjean, who drove a Dale Coyne Racing with RWR-Honda, beat Team Penske-Chevrolet’s Josef Newgarden by almost 0.13 seconds on a 69-second lap of the 2,439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It was his first pole since 2011 when he competed in the GP2 championship (now Formula 2). Although he had 10 podiums in his nine-year Formula 1 career, they were full in the first four seasons of his career with the Lotus F1 team. He spent the last five with Haas F1 enjoying the smaller “wins” but admitting that he didn’t feel the same exhilaration as he did in competing for wins as he had during his stellar junior formula career.

“You know, even in the last few years, which have been difficult in terms of the results, I’ll take Germany as an example last year, where I finished ninth with the Haas car, which was very special.

“I think we were in 12th place in Germany in 2018 after the last safety car. I’ve come back sixth or so in the last 10 laps. That was pretty cool. Even if you don’t win, you have that feeling.

“The days that I completely forgot are when you get to the race weekend, you have these butterflies because you know if you do everything right you may end up on pole or try to win the race. That was definitely something I haven’t had a chance to do in the past few years. “

The Swiss-born Frenchman was amazed to hear that 3361 days had passed since his last Pole and described himself as “speechless!” and to say that “10 years sounds better!”

He continued, “You know, if you’ve won every category you’ve driven before, but if you get into Formula 1 when you don’t have the best car, it will be very unlikely you can win races.

“I was lucky enough to win some good lotuses early in my career and be in the front row, third place, which was great.

“But obviously there was Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull back then and only on a different level. It feels really good to be in IndyCar in a field where everyone has a chance to try. I think the whole team did a great job today, even if Ed Jones did a good Quallie [eight fastest in the DCR-with Vasser Sullivan car]. I am satisfied with that. “

When asked bluntly what it feels like to be competitive again, Grosjean said sincerely: “It’s like I’m alive again… A lot of people ask how I felt at the first Formula 1 race of the season and I did was not there. I said, ‘Guys, the chapter is closed for me. I had a good time, now I want something different. I was looking for that. ‘

“I love the atmosphere between the drivers, I love the tracks. The cars are fun to drive. We can do some good things. I am really happy.

“It’s been a tough year with the family because I’m quite a long way from them. We knew what was going to happen this year before we decided on the future. I’m happier, I’ve said it a couple of times; I am happier than I have been in a long time. “

Grosjean admitted that the IMS road course was the route on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule that he thought was most similar to what he had seen in Europe.

“Of all the routes I’ve ridden in the USA, this is the best known. I can say that it was actually designed for Formula 1 how the curbs are, the layout and the corners. I knew I would feel okay on the track pretty quickly, while St. Pete needs a little more time to study. Barber, a few tricks that you need to understand. It’s a little easier for me here. “

He explained how he prevailed in qualifying: “Obviously we did a lot of work over the weekend to be good and even to learn something about it. Our first qualifying segment wasn’t that good. The second felt a lot better.

“In Fast Six, I never drove with rubbed red tires, so I didn’t know what to expect from the car. It behaved very well.

“I made a mistake on the first lap. It was a fast lap, but I made a mistake. I knew that I had more pace on the second lap. It went really, really well. I thought it could be. That’s it. “

Grosjean went on to Firestone, but also to the feeling that an IndyCar has from its steering, whereby even a beginner can see how much grip is in reserve.

“I think, to be completely honest, Firestone is doing an amazing job on the tires. I’ve enjoyed them a lot since I was on the show, how to slide and slide, how to relax.

“I think we scrub faster than new tires. That shows how good the tires are. When you fold the lap the balance is there, it’s really good … when you nail them down and have the grip and the balance, through the steering wheel you can really feel that you are there, you have the grip.

“In Formula 1 with the power steering wheel, you naturally lose that feeling a little. The tire is very different. I dont know. I just feel like you put the red here and kind of know what to expect, that happens most of the time. “

Regarding the start of the race, Grosjean had said he was inexperienced in leading a field side by side to the green flag. Josef Newgarden, who will start at his side, was asked if he would try to exploit the inexperience of the pole sitter.

“No way!” Grosjean interjected before Newgarden said, “We didn’t talk about it, but he saw that a few are starting now. I think he’ll be fine if he gets involved.

“The idea of ​​the start… obviously the pole sitter sets the pace. He wants to keep his advantage to which he has the right. I think for the rest of us, for myself, I want to get through the start.

“I saw that enough starts went badly in Turn 1. Let’s get through the start and then we can start pounding each other and figuring out where the pace is, our strengths and weaknesses.

“He’ll be fine. He’s seen a couple, he knows the rules. He is very experienced. I am sure we will get through well and race. “