Indy 500 – Simon Pagenaud: “We worked well”

Since the start of the season, the Sam Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has not been varnished. If the American team has proven on many occasions that its two drivers were able to keep up with the best, it encountered bad luck and mechanical problems preventing the two Frenchmen from achieving convincing results. However, simon pagenaud, Rookie of the Year 2012, keeps his smile going into the Indianapolis 500, the flagship event of the calendar, the first on an oval of this 2013 season. Le Poitevin, who will start on Sunday from 21st position on the grid starting point, approaches the event with high morale.

“We have a car that we have prepared specifically for the race. That was the goal, He explains. Compared to last year when the Indy 500 was my first event on an oval, I feel much more confident. On such a track, qualifying is not as decisive as on a road circuit. I think we worked well over the last two weeks of testing. The behavior of my car proves excellent in traffic. However, I am convinced that this will be the key to the race. During testing we mainly focused on preparing for the race. We've gone through a range of settings and are reasonably confident in the car's handling and performance. »

All that remains is to complete a long and difficult race, during which the slightest mistake pays off in cash. “The main difficulty will be to choose the best aerodynamic compromise for the race, He continues. Driving 500 miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a very long exercise. Stress levels are at their highest and it is difficult to maintain perfect concentration throughout the event. Single-seaters reach averages above 220 mph (350 km/h. Editor’s note). This requires extremely precise piloting. Hence the importance of being at the controls of a machine with healthy and balanced behavior, synonymous with a certain comfort for the driver. Like a test like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, I think we are never sufficiently ready for the Indianapolis 500. I can not wait to be there ! »

As a reminder, there will be three French people at the start on Sunday, Simon Pagenaud being accompanied by his teammate Tristan Vautier and Manceau Sébastien Bourdais, who defends the colors of Dragon Racing.

Discover the photos of the Indianapolis 500 by going to our gallery.