Grosjean in talks with IndyCar teams after Haas F1 exit
Romain Grosjean says he has opened talks with IndyCar teams, after admitting that he is now interested in a switch from Formula 1 to the American open-wheel series.
The Frenchman, who is not being retained by Haas for next year, has previously been reluctant to switch to IndyCar because he was not too eager to race on ovals.
However, with the series only featuring four oval races next year – the Indy 500, the Texas double-header and Gateway – he says the make-up of the 2021 schedule is attractive to him.
“It is an option,” said Grosjean. “And if I'm brutally honest, I haven't been sleeping very well for the last two weeks. It's a tough year for the world, for the economy, so it's not a good year to be out of contract, and out of the sport that you are in.
“So yes, I've been looking at IndyCar. I've had some contacts and some good ones. And I kind of regret I didn't check the calendar earlier, that there were only two speedways and one short track in terms of ovals. But it's not over. And it's something that I would consider.”
Grosjean’s interest in IndyCar comes with several teams still having vacancies for next year, including Carpenter, Coyne, Shank, Carlin and Foyt. He would not necessarily need to bring a big sponsorship budget with him either.
He said he had spoken to former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson about his experience of IndyCar, and claimed that the feedback was encouraging.
“Obviously it is a big change in life, but I spoke with Marcus Ericsson when he went there, and he really liked it,” he explained. “He says it's different, but the drivers get a big role to play in the car.
“Yes, there are teams better than others, but everyone has got a chance to win the race, and, you know, a day like today, where I think Kevin [Magnussen] and myself, we did bloody good quality laps and we're 16th and 17th.
“It's hard to swallow, and probably now I want to win races and have a chance, and win races where I can have fun. So, IndyCar is on the menu.”
With Grosjean almost certainly not going to find an F1 race seat next year, his other main option outside of IndyCar is a move to sportscars. He has already expressed an interest in being part of Peugeot’s upcoming Hypercar project in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda leads
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Related video
Previous article
Wolff doesn't see F1 engine freeze happening amid opposition
Next article
Hamilton predicts a "boring" F1 race at Imola
Why unseen Hungary heroics could be Latifi's making
The chaotic start to the Hungarian GP set the scene for F1's less heralded drivers to make a name for themselves. Esteban Ocon did just that to win in fine style, but further down the order one driver was making his first visit to the points and - while the circumstances were fortunate - took full advantage of the chance presented to him
Hungarian Grand Prix driver ratings
This was race that showcased the best and worst of Formula 1, producing a first time winner and a memorable comeback to a podium finish. Avoiding trouble at the start and astute strategy calls were key to success, but where some drivers took full advantage, others made key errors that cost them dearly
The "heart-breaking" call that led to Ocon's Hungarian GP triumph
Set to restart the red-flagged Hungarian Grand Prix in second, Esteban Ocon had some doubts when he peeled into the pits to swap his intermediate tyres for slicks. But this "heart-breaking" call was vindicated in spectacular fashion as the Alpine driver staved off race-long pressure from Sebastian Vettel for a memorable maiden Formula 1 victory
The F1 champion who became an Indy king in his second career
Emerson Fittipaldi’s decision to go racing with his brother led to him falling out of F1, but he bloomed again on the IndyCar scene. NIGEL ROEBUCK considers a career of two halves
Why Mercedes is pleased to be in the Hungary hunt at a 'Red Bull track'
Mercedes ended Friday practice at the Hungaroring with a clear gap to Red Bull thanks to Valtteri Bottas’s pace in topping FP2. But there are other reasons why the Black Arrows squad feels satisfied with its progress so far at a track many Formula 1 observers reckon favours Red Bull overall...
How Red Bull endured its second car crash in two weeks
OPINION: Red Bull was justified to be upset that Lewis Hamilton survived his British GP clash with Max Verstappen and went on to win. But its attempts to lobby the FIA to reconsider the severity of Hamilton's in-race penalty were always likely to backfire, and have only succeeded in creating a PR disaster that will distract from its on-track efforts
The ‘screaming’ F1 engine future that may not be out of reach
OPINION: It wasn't just the Verstappen/Hamilton clash that had the Red Bull and Mercedes bosses at loggerheads at Silverstone, with the nature of Formula 1's 2025 engines also subject for disagreement. But hopes to have loud, emotive engines that are also environmentally friendly don't have to be opposed.
How Lotus uncovered, then squandered its last ‘unfair advantage’
Cast in the mould of its founder Colin Chapman, Lotus was powerful and daring but flawed – as it proved through further soaring peaks and painful troughs into the 1980s. DAMIEN SMITH examines a game-changing era
