Simon Pagenaud, AUTOhebdo Driver of the Year

You are AUTO Driver of the Yearhebdo, what does that mean to you?

It's nice to see how this title in IndyCar was perceived almost everywhere and particularly at home, in France. An ocean separates us from Europe and it's not easy to get people talking about yourself.

I was surprised by the feedback, especially when I returned to do this media tour in France. Receiving the golden steering wheel from the FFSA is very pleasant because the Federation helped me a lot.

Coming from a family with no connection to motor racing, I really needed it. In particular, first of all, by making my parents realize that I had the ability to have a career.

It surprises me to be ahead of such big names, starting with Romain Dumas, who is still world champion inEndurance and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I feel like I'm winning everything this year and it's super rewarding.

Find our full interview with simon pagenaud, as well as our look back at the career of the 2016 IndyCar champion, in issue 2094 of AUTOhebdo, always available in digital version and on newsstands.