Is Simon Pagenaud underrated?

Facts : For his first race with Meyer Shank Racing, simon pagenaud, in the company ofHelio Castroneves, Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis, won the first 24 Hours of Daytona of his career three years after his victory at the Indy 500 and six after his coronation in IndyCar.

YES, by Fabien Gérard

At 37, Simon Pagenaud is a star across the Atlantic in the same way as Hélio Castroneves. Poitevin has an aura that has not diminished since its many years of presence on American soil. Since its arrival in the United States in 2005, the Habs have always managed to achieve a remarkable performance, adding to their track record and an arm-length CV. With the 24 Hours of Daytona now in his catalog of victories, he has written a new page in his love story with the USA. 

The Frenchman, with his track record, does not seem to benefit from the recognition he deserves. Please note, this reflection is only valid outside American borders. It is surely a combination of circumstances and availability but it has been many years since Simon Pagenaud was seen in Sarthe. If you take other Indycar stars, since 2011 (last appearance of the Habs at Le Mans) we have regularly seen Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon competing in the Le Mans classic. How can a constructor like Peugeot which is making its comeback in Endurance did not turn to him (perhaps common ground was not found that said…). It is truly surprising that a boy of his size has not come more often to compete in a race that is close to his heart.  But everything could change with the arrival of the new Endurance regulations in 2023 with the beginning of the era where Acura, its manufacturer in IMSA, plans to prove himself there. 

If you have to  also ask you about his future in Indycar, no reason to be worried. Leaving the fold of a top team like Penske does not mean that the value of Simon Pagenaud is decreasing and that the 2016 champion sees his rating evaporate. The main interested party sees this as an excellent opportunity to give new impetus to his career with an up-and-coming team. A team that will listen to it in order to grow and continue its rise at the heart of Indycar.

©LAT Images

NO, by Medhi Casaurang-Vergez

Simon Pagenaud's concern, as my colleague explained, is that he emigrated to the United States to have a very successful career. In Uncle Sam's country, no one wonders what Poitevin is worth, because the Frenchman has been running IndyCar for almost a decade.

Intelligent, Simon Pagenaud put the American public in the pocket through two techniques: his results and his communication. In a nation where it is very easy to be labeled an enemy when arriving from abroad, the Habs have made a place for themselves among the many American pilots, who are nevertheless more supported by the fans.

Like the Brazilians Helio Castroneves or Tony Kanaan, Simon Pagenaud acquired legitimacy by winning the Champ Car Atlantic, then by being Rookie of the Year in IndyCar in 2012. Difficult to criticize a driver who beats the locals on a regular basis !

The reflection of this acceptance of the French pilot within the US community is reflected in his mastery of social networks and communication. Physically, his resemblance to the actor Sacha Baron Cohen, playing the role of the French driver Jean Girard in the film “Ricky Bobby: King of the circuit” (Talladega Nights in English) allowed him to replay scenes, to the greatest pleasure Internet users.

“It’s easy, I just have to do the French accent,” he explained to the former pilot’s podcast. Nascar, Dale Earnhardt Jr. I get asked to do this every day! It doesn't bother me, it helps attract the public to IndyCar. »

Diverting the cliché of the Frenchman to his advantage, Simon Pagenaud made it a tool to promote his sport. The same goes for highlighting his dog, a Jack Russell terrier, named Norman Pagenaud. Personified on Instagram and Twitter, it helps attract new fans to Simon Pagenaud and ultimately to the American single-seater championship.