Grosjean happy to have equal machinery in IndyCar

Henry Valantine
Romain Grosjean

Romain Grosjean

Romain Grosjean is looking forward to the prospect of being able to race on an equal footing against his competitors in the new IndyCar season.

The 2021 calendar will get under way this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama – and the Frenchman is relishing the idea of being on a much more level playing field for the first time in a decade.

With a high-quality field to compete against in his first season post-Formula 1, Grosjean is looking ahead to what will hopefully be a successful season for him.

“I think it’s a great series where you’ve got top drivers, top level, top races. You get a chance to pretty much have the same tools as your friends, competitors,” Grosjean said, quoted bv RaceFans.

“The last time I got really the chance to have the same tools as the others was 2011 in GP2. I was close to [a] win a few times in Formula 1, but I was also in the era with Raikkonen and Vettel who dominated everything. I was close a few times, bu­­t not on an every-race basis.”

Now that he has made the move to America to try IndyCar, Grosjean says he is not sure yet if he will compete for a second season in the category – as he wants to see if he enjoys the experience in 2021.

He also said a regret of his was not being able to drive a title-challenging car during his F1 career, but a new challenge will await him in the States.

The 10-time Formula 1 podium finisher will be spending significant periods of time away from his family while he races, with the 35-year-old set to take part in 13 of the 17 races this season as he will not be competing on oval layouts.

“I don’t have a direct answer [to the future],” he said. “I can only tell you what I suspect. If I enjoy my time in the US, if I can do a great job, if I feel like this is what I want to do and I can race well and do my job properly, in a nice way, I would definitely stay.

“At the minute, it’s a challenge, I’m taking on a lot of aspects. It’s a new category, a lot of travel for me. My family is staying in Europe. Sometimes I’m going to be maybe a month without seeing them, which is quite hard when you’re a dad.

“But I’m ready to try it. As I say, if everything goes well, I really enjoy myself, I’ve got great opportunities in the future here. I’m more than happy to bring everyone over and to enjoy a few years here.

“I’m 35, so I still have some time for racing. Seems that the guys, Scott [Dixon] is 40, Will Power just turned 40, Sebastien [Bourdais] is 42. They still do really good and go racing. I still see that I’ve got some years left. As I say, if I enjoy myself here, what I came looking for, I may stay.”

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Romain Grosjean

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