IndyCar – Simon Pagenaud returns to his podium

He came close to repeating his feat in Detroit, where he scored the first victory of his career at the beginning of last June. simon pagenaud was sparkling again last Sunday at Mid-Ohio, on a circuit that has often succeeded in the past. Leader for a time in the race, the Frenchman just had to lose to an imperial Charlie Kimball to take a very good 2nd place. “Starting from 8th place on the grid, we opted for a fairly optimistic race strategy with a start on hard tires., explains the Schmidt pilot Hamilton HP Motorsports. Knowing that our car would be competitive over the long stints, I thought I would be able to get back into the lead pack at the end of my first stint. Objective that we fulfilled perfectly! »

Shod on soft tires for his second stint, the “Rookie of the year 2012” only had to complete the qualifying laps to move up the hierarchy. What he will do brilliantly since he will reach 2nd place. “So, at the end of my last refueling, I came out of the pit lane in the lead of the race. » It is at this moment that Simon Pagenaud will give everything to keep the reins of the race, in vain. “Due to my tires still being cold and a pack of latecomers who didn't make my task easy, (Charlie, Editor’s note) Kimball took advantage of the temperature advantage offered by his tires to regain the lead. I am therefore satisfied with the 2nd step of the podium after a race during which I gave my maximum without ever giving up. The fact is that the Ganassi team and its driver Charlie Kimball had a slight advantage over us last Sunday. I congratulate them, as well as Honda, which obtains a winning hat-trick in Mid-Ohio, where the Japanese manufacturer's assembly plants and research and development centers are located. » Next meeting for August 25, in Sonoma, California.

Discover the report from the Mid-Ohio event in the new issue of AUTOhebdo, available from this Tuesday in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.