With 10 podiums across 10 seasons in Formula 1 and six podiums in less than three seasons in IndyCar, Romain Grosjean has made quite a resume for himself. But there is one thing that he is still missing: a win in IndyCar.
When Romain Grosjean signed with Dale Coyne Racing for the 2021 IndyCar season, it made a splash in the world of motorsports. Just a few months prior, the Swiss-born Frenchman’s Formula 1 career ended in a horrific accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
During his first season in IndyCar, Grosjean made a name for himself. At DCR, he earned his first IndyCar pole position at just his third race in the series at the Indy GP. In that race, Grosjean came home second to earn his first IndyCar podium, an achievement he would repeat two more times later that season at Indianapolis and Laguna Seca.
2022 brought a new deal with Andretti Autosport for Grosjean, and while he only had one podium instead of three, it was apparent that the potential was there. The Frenchman cashed in on seven Top 10s in 17 races and gained valuable experience on ovals, a type of track he had never competed on previously.
Emotional end to the day for @RGrosjean.#INDYCAR // #FirestoneGP pic.twitter.com/SakubTpG7d
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) March 5, 2023
Coming up short
But despite the successes and all of the ups Grosjean has experienced in his limited time in the IndyCar Series, there is one glaring stat line that is bare: wins. After Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Road Course, he has now gone 35 IndyCar races without a win. While plenty of drivers have gone through their careers without a win, Grosjean has been so close so many times especially thus far in 2023.
Speaking at Indianapolis on the Thursday prior to the GMR Grand Prix, Grosjean had this to say when asked how close he thinks the win is, “Well, I think I’m going to finally win a race so the question stop being asked.” said the 37-year-old. “We’re here. The win is going to come whenever it comes. If you finish every time like this, it’s going to be good for the championship. We just keep going.”
Grosjean was right about the championship. He currently sits at fourth in the championship, over 25 points ahead of his closest teammate Kyle Kirkwood in 10th. While consistency is one thing, Romain Grosjean has proven that winning is another. As someone who has been close to a victory multiple times, it is bound to happen for him sooner or later.
At St. Petersburg, he was fighting for the win before a collision with Scott McLaughlin took both drivers out of the race. At Barber, Grosjean led 57 laps before losing out to the eventual winner, McLaughlin.
It is clear that Romain Grosjean’s day in IndyCar will come, and likely soon. Will it be this year? Who knows, but watch out, because he’s fourth in the championship.
Featured Image Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
