Grosjean, who participated in 180 Formula 1 Grand Prix, will take part in all 13 permanent and urban circuit races on the 2021 IndyCar calendar. His first test with the DCR-RWR car will be on February 22 at Barber Motorsports Park.
The 34-year-old Frenchman has ruled out competing in high-speed racing at the Texas Motor Speedway ovals – which this year hosts two events – and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 105th Indianapolis 500. However, Grosjean has commented to Motorsport.com he’s interested in testing the World Wide Technology Raceway oval in Gateway, which returned to the IndyCar calendar in 2017.
In the four Formula 1 seasons with Lotus, Grosjean achieved 10 podiums and finished eighth and seventh in the championship in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
However, the last five seasons have been spent with the Haas team, where it has become increasingly difficult to shine. For Grosjean, the opportunity to return to a championship where he can fight to win again has revived his passion for motorsports.
“I am very excited about this opportunity to race in the United States in IndyCar,” he said. “I had different options for this season, and the IndyCar was my favorite … although, I’m not ready for the ovals yet!”
“IndyCar has a much more balanced grid than what I have been used to in my career so far. It will be exciting to fight for podiums and victories again.”
Grosjean’s last race in Formula 1 was the Bahrain Grand Prix last November, where he suffered a spectacular accident that resulted in a fire and suffered some burns to his feet and hands.
“My left hand is still on the mend, but we are about to get back in a race car and start the next chapter of my journey.”
Coyne He got in touch with several Formula 1 drivers ending their contract in 2020 and some Formula 2 drivers who did not have a chance to get into F1 this year, but they were impressed with Grosjean even before negotiations began.
“I’ve heard a lot about how studious Romain is,” Coyne told Motorsport.com. “From how he strives to bond with his race engineer and find solutions to any problems. That is exactly the attitude you want from a driver, and it is especially important when trying to learn everything about a championship that is totally for him. alien”.
“I think Romain is going to catch up very quickly, like Alex [Palou, que ha cambiado DCR por Ganassi], and once you’ve seen all the changes that can and cannot be made with these cars in terms of setup, it will help propel the team forward. You just have to see his record in GP2 [ahora Fórmula 2] to see what it can do. Won the championship [en 2011] and a couple of GP2 Asia titles. “
Rick Ware, who was confirmed as a Coyne driver for 2021 last week, said: “I am delighted to face my first full IndyCar season with Dale Coyne Racing, and having a driver of the caliber of Romain Grosjean alongside makes it that much more exciting. “.
In the Barber test, Grosjean will test with the new DCR signing, Vasser Sullivan Y Ed Jones, a veteran with three seasons in the IndyCar who returns to the championship after a one-year hiatus.
