Grosjean having second thoughts about IndyCar move after Bahrain crash

2020 Sakhir Grand Prix

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Romain Grosjean admits he is reconsidering a potential move into IndyCar racing following his huge crash in Bahrain last week.

The Haas driver began looking for a way into the American series after learning he would not remain in F1 next year. He was initially concerned about the prospect of racing on ovals, but changed his stance after learning the majority of next year’s 17 IndyCar races will take place on road and street courses.

But after surviving his horrifying crash on Sunday, Grosjean said the dangers of oval racing are on his mind again.

“Obviously, we were talking about IndyCar at one point. I think the thought now to have the risk of ovals where you can have big shunts and having my family far away and seeing it on TV, it’s hard. I don’t know if I could make it.”

Grosjean said his priority to return to racing at next week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, if the burns to his left hand heal sufficiently.

Romain Grosjean crash, Bahrain International Circuit, 2020
‘I put both my hands in the fire’: Grosjean describes his 28 seconds trapped in an inferno
“The first and only target at the minute is to try to get back to Abu Dhabi,” he said, adding he won’t take any decision on his future until later.

“I’ve decided not to take any decision for now until I maybe get to a race in Abu Dhabi or get some more time. Last week the priority was to sign a contract and find a way to go racing in 2021. The priority now is a bit different.

“If I don’t race in 2021 I’ll be cycling, kitesurfing, spending time with my kids, enjoying life and having time off. Which I didn’t have since I am 17, probably.”

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2020 Sakhir Grand Prix

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11 comments on “Grosjean having second thoughts about IndyCar move after Bahrain crash”

  1. I think he’s having flashbacks of Bahrain so I don’t think he’ll consider going back to racing…

  2. I think he will still want to race again, but will aim for FE as the speeds are lower, so any impacts will be less intense.
    I can’t see him moving to Indy simply because they have the screen and not the halo. Even though they’re very similar, I think he will prefer to stick to what he knows and has faith in.

    However what remains to be seen is if the incident leaves a lasting impression on him like it did for Berger (which he admits) and Massa (which he won’t admit!).

    1. Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
      5th December 2020, 12:45

      I can see him joining the Peugeot hypercar program

  3. I don’t blame him for having second thoughts.
    His crash last Sunday was horrific and extremely rare in F1. They are not so rare in IndyCar I believe.

  4. At the speeds they get to on those ovals any attempt to do a rapid change of lane/line may have his car end up in another county if in one piece.

  5. A racing driver is a special breed that I, and my family, know only too well. A mindset like no other.
    He will race again, that’s without doubt – but I don’t blame him for being nervous of oval racing, it’s not the speed but the proximity of other cars at those speeds. Having seen him race F1, he’s not an Indy car racer.

  6. He really shouldn’t go to indycar. Racers with his reckless, crashing reputation/driving style are not really welcome there. And IMO he really shouldn’t for his own safety.

    1. If he went there I think he would have done something erratic.

  7. Go live your life
    It’s really the most important thing for you and your family from now on. They are why you are still alive. You live for them. Racing was a part of your life. Now you been given the very clear message there is more to life than racing. Hard to believe though isn’t it. I think you are clear headed now about the real importance of life. You’ve been goofing around for many years always chasing the next racing seat somewhere. Now a racing car accident has given you back the greatest of all gifts, the gift of love from your family. Time to accept the future. It’s not in racing cars but instead something far better, a loving family and starting a life without all things racing. Thank you for the enjoyment you’ve given us. Seeing you with those who saved you yesterday was a beautiful thing.
    Good for all of us too.

    So Roman “vive vivar”.
    Go live life

  8. Yes there are HUGE crashes in IndyCar on Super Speedways, but the cars are designed to safely withstand them. They are designed to absorb insanely high impacts (much higher than F1) and protect the driver very well, and fire is non-existant. Now with the Aeroscreen the cars are safer than F1 cars for crashes with debris. The biggest danger is wheel to wheel contact on Super Speedways (with average speeds of 220mph) and getting airborne which is rare.

    It’s easy to understand his feelings after such a frigtnening crash. If it wasn’t for the fire I don’t believe he would be contemplating quiting racing. It would have been an entirely different situation, realizing what had happened and taking his time to get out of the car with the aid of the Marshall’s.

    1. The safety crews and their equipment in Indycars are mobile units and professional staffed. Each unit set up for a specific task and at least 4 complete sets of units deployed around any oval track.

      https://www.indycar.com/Fan-Info/INDYCAR-101/Safety/Safety-Team-Equipment-And-Tools

      Being mobile means the safety crews are “on scene” much faster. If we look at the Dixon crash at Indy, the safety crew is in motion and moving onto the track whilst he is still airborne.

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