Former Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean made a big impression in his rookie IndyCar season this year. In the 13 races in which he participated, the Frenchman achieved three podiums and six top 10 finishes.
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With 272 points, he also finished the season as the second-highest rookie in the overall standings for IndyCar drivers, 33 points behind Rookie of the Year Scott McLaughlin. Although he didn’t have that much influence during his F1 career, his talent as a racing driver cannot be denied after his stint at IndyCar.
During a recent interaction, the 35-year-old revealed the difference in atmosphere between IndyCar and F1.
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Romain Grosjean describes how the atmosphere at IndyCar differs from F1
Grosjean drove briefly in Formula 1 for Renault in 2009 before making his full season debut in 2012. That year he returned to the French team, which for a short time took the name Lotus Renault GP. Although he secured eight podium places in his career in Formula 1, he hardly interfered with the hunt for the drivers’ championship.
Formula 1 F1 – Portuguese Grand Prix – Algarve International Circuit, Portimao, Portugal – Romain Grosjean von Haas during the FIA / Handout press conference on REUTERS
Although his F1 career ended in a serious crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix last year, he never stopped racing. Grosjean made his IndyCar debut at Dale Coyne Racing and found his groove almost immediately.
Grosjean recently appeared on the In the Fast Lane podcast, where he talked about the difference between F1 and IndyCar in terms of atmosphere. He mentioned that he enjoyed various aspects of racing in the United States, including the time he spent with other drivers.
He said, “I’ve enjoyed the year. From the atmosphere in the paddock, with the drivers who grill together on Saturday evening and then go into the race hard on Sunday and drink a beer after the race.
“To be able to have pretty much the same equipment as the others. Fighting for podiums and pole positions and sometimes fighting for victory. So, I really enjoyed it. ”
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Grosjean: The fans were amazing
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The Frenchman also praised the American racing fans, who are extremely passionate about IndyCar. “The fans in the States were also absolutely amazing,” said Grosjean. “Big star there, a bit strange. But I love it and the support they give me was absolutely amazing. “
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After incredible successes in his rookie season, Andretti Autosport has signed the Frenchman for 2022. He will also compete in the Indianapolis 500 next year, having recently completed his rookie orientation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
WATCH HISTORY: How fast can F1 cars go? Compare with MotoGP, IndyCAR, NASCAR and Formula E.
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