IndyCar – Pagenaud: “Intimidation at 350 km/h…”

“I would have liked to talk to you about happier things. But like many, I was very shaken by Jules' disappearance ? When I found out he had passed away, it was a shock. It's really difficult to accept, and I'm thinking at this moment of his family and loved ones, who must be going through painful moments.

After an event like this, it's difficult for us drivers to move on. Before Fontana (June 27), we finally had time to sit down a bit with Ben (Bretzman, his engineer, Editor's note) to analyze the last races and prepare for the last part of the season.

In Fontana, theIndyCar allowed us to ride with a lot of aerodynamic downforce. In June, in California, it is always hot and the higher the temperatures, the heavier we drive, in order to compensate for tire degradation.

In qualification, I signed my first pole position with Penske at 219 mph (352 km/h). It was good to see that we were smiling a little. But the aero configurations resulted in a bunch race. We couldn't escape and to overtake, we had to be intimidated. But intimidation at 350 km/h? »

Find the entire third letter from the United States of simon pagenaud, in issue 2022 of AUTOhebdo, already available in digital version and on newsstands.