Since 2020, Romain Grosjean has had quite the rollercoaster ride in open wheel racing.
From his brutal accident in the penultimate race of the 2020 Formula 1 season in Bahrain, to making a leap of faith over to American soil to compete in the NTT IndyCar Series a couple months later.
“(It’s) definitely (been) eventful, things that I never thought would happen, happened,” Grosjean stated, “But right now, we live in Miami with my family, everyone is super happy, I’m very much enjoying living down here. The culture, the atmosphere, the weather, everything. I’m really happy with where I am in my life, and that’s just what you want to have.”
The Switzerland-native adapted to IndyCar racing extremely quickly while running a part-time schedule with Dale Coyne Racing last season, resulting in three podiums, four top-five finishes, and a pole at the hallowed grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Then, the opportunity to drive full time for Michael Andretti and Andretti Autosport in the No. 28 DHL Honda came knocking and Grosjean quickly found himself in a championship-caliber machine.
Upon his arrival to the team, Grosjean was immediately struck by the tight-knit group within the Andretti camp.
“The big surprise is that it feels like a 20-person team when (it’s) 150” Grosjean remarked, “What I found last year at (Dale) Coyne Racing was a small team, (a) very family-friendly environment. I can get it at Andretti as well, and I love that.”
Through two races, the 35-year-old finds himself 10th in the standings, however, he feels he and the team are just scratching the surface of their potential.
“I think (in) St. Pete, we lacked a bit of pace, but it was the first time that I was doing a race with Andretti (Autosport) on a street course,” Grosjean said. “I think (with) the package we can fine-tune it to make it more to my liking.”
Two weeks ago in Texas, the paddock witnessed Grosjean compete for the first time on a high-banked oval, where a solid top-10 run was cut short due to a technical failure 128 laps into the event.
“I was playing quite conservatively in the first part of the race,” Grosjean said, “making sure that we saw the checkered flag, which we knew was going to be a top 10, and we weren’t wrong because only 12 cars finished or so.”
“We were into it,” he continued, “and then we had a technical failure, so it happens. I guess we used our joker for the season, so now we just need to make sure we finish every race.”
The name of the game for Grosjean has been adjusting to the changes that come with his first full season in the NTT IndyCar Series.
That next big adjustment on the horizon, is preparing for the Greatest Spectacle In Racing, the Indianapolis 500.
“Getting used to driving at 230+ mph, next to a wall, and next to other cars” Grosjean said. “I heard it can mess quite badly with your head, because you’ve got so much testing, so much time on track, so much time off-track that you start (to) reinvent the wheel.”
“Sometimes it’s better to stay (with) what you know.”
Both Grosjean and fellow second-year driver Jimmie Johnson completed their rookie orientation program at Indy late last year. Grosjean noted how different the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is compared to other venues.
“It is very specific and very special,” Grosjean said, “from the way you set up the car, to the way you race, to (being) on your own (in) qualifying, a couple of laps of 4 laps average, which is also something (that’s) a tiny bit different.”
Despite the newness and special feel of an oval, Grosjean reiterated his choice of battle ground in the cockpit.
“If you ask me, I still prefer road and street courses, but I like the challenge of ovals,” he said.
Grosjean has had his fair share of adjustments in all facets of life over the past year and a half. However, as he grows more comfortable in the No. 28 DHL machine, don’t be surprised when ‘The Phoenix’ hits his groove and challenges for the top step of the podium.
“I feel like we’ve got more to come,” Grosjean exclaimed. “I’m still targeting, trying to be in the mix for the championship at the end of the year, so that’s where we stand.”