Grosjean ‘quite tempted’ by IndyCar switch

Jon Wilde
Romain Grosjean

Romain Grosjean has admitted to a change of heart about a switch to IndyCar, saying he is now “quite tempted by it”.

Romain Grosjean has admitted to a change of heart about a switch to IndyCar, saying he is now “quite tempted by it”.

The Frenchman is seeking a new challenge for 2021 having been released by the Haas team after five years, with available Formula 1 seats increasingly in short supply.

Not that it ever appeared to be an option for Grosjean but the Alfa Romeo door is now firmly closed, for they have confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi are staying.

It had appeared that a switch to sportscar racing was the most likely move for 34-year-old Grosjean, who has expressed interest in the Peugeot Hypercar programme for the World Endurance Championship.

But he has now also revealed that other series remain possible, including IndyCar which he had previously disregarded due to an aversion to racing on oval circuits.

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“There are even fewer seats available in Formula 1 so that looks even more tricky, but I’ve made peace with myself and I’m looking at other projects where I can go and win races,” said Grosjean, who is joining his team-mate Kevin Magnussen in exiting Haas for “financial reasons” on the team’s part.

“That’s something I’ve been missing for a few years now, having a competitive car, and that’s something I would really like to go back to and have fun in different categories.

“Formula E is an option, I’m obviously looking at Le Mans endurance races, as well as the US.

“I know I said I wasn’t really interested in the US, but there are fewer ovals than I thought and ovals are something I’m a bit scared of. But I’m also quite tempted by it, so we’ll see.”

Grosjean has five more races with the Haas team, starting with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola which he has described as a “mega track”.

Of the Italian venue that is staging an F1 race for the first time since 2006, he added: “It looks awesome. I can’t wait to go and drive a Formula 1 car here.”

He will be hoping for a race more like his P9 finish at the Eifel Grand Prix two outings ago than his P16 at the Portuguese Grand Prix last week, adding: “You always feel much better on a Monday after a good race than after a bad race. The last one I don’t look really look at it that way – I just want to do the best I can every weekend.”

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