simon pagenaud
1. Who is Simon Pagenaud?
Simon Pagenaud is French, born May 18, 1984 in Montmorillon (Vienna). He is currently a racing driver in IndyCar and plays for Meyer Shank Racing.
Simon Pagenaud at the 500 Indy 2022. © IndyCar Media
2. Simon Pagenaud’s junior career
Simon Pagenaud started in karting at the age of 10 in 1994. It was not until 2001 that the Montmorillonnais accessed the promotion formulas, thanks to his victory the previous year in the prestigious Volant Elf. His circuit learning will be done entirely within the disciplines equipped with Renault engines: Formula Renault Campus (vice-champion in 2001), Formula Renault France and Eurocup (vice-champion in 2004 behind Scott Speed).
A hell of a hairstyle in F. Renault France in 2003! © DPPI / F. Le Floc’h
The jump to F. Renault 3.5 was a failure in 2005 (15th). In order to relaunch his career, the Frenchman crossed the Atlantic and competed in the United States for the ChampCar access formula, called… the Atlantic Formula. Simon Pagenaud won one victory, compared to five for Bobby Rahal's son, Graham Rahal, but won the title thanks to better consistency. A check for $2 million allows him to aim for ChampCar.
The bonus will be awarded to Simon Pagenaud (left) to the detriment of Graham Rahal. © LAT/DPPI
3. Simon Pagenaud’s IndyCar journey
Hired by Team Australia built around Will Power (whom he would find in IndyCar many years later), simon pagenaud completed the 2007 ChampCar season as a rookie. In a discipline dominated by his compatriot Sébastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud impressed with a final 8th place. Unfortunately, his team closed the door the following winter, at the same time as ChampCar merged with IndyCar. Without a steering wheel, Simon Pagenaud spent time in Endurance in the American Le Mans Series (2010 champion with David Brabham and Highcroft Racing), then at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot. He finished second in the 2011 edition, just 13 seconds behind the victorious Audi.
The doors to IndyCar opened for good in 2012, where he signed with the modest Sam Schmidt Motorsports team (now Arrow McLaren SP). Facing big armadas like Penske, Chip Ganassi or Andretti, Simon Pagenaud surprised the entire American paddock with four podiums and the honorary title of best rookie.
© F. Peirce Williams / LAT / DPPI
In 2013, Simon Pagenaud reached the top of the podium in Baltimore, and finished the season third in the championship behind experts Scott Dixon and Hélio Castroneves. Still with Sam Schmidt, he also won his first pole in 2014. Roger Penske, the charismatic boss of the eponymous Team, integrated him into Team Penske in 2015. A heavy responsibility that Simon Pagenaud initially struggled with. to adapt (11th)
The turning point came in 2016. His consistency combined with his burst of speed allowed him to play leading roles throughout the season. Facing his teammate Will Power, he became the first Frenchman to be crowned champion with a good lead of 127 points.
Narrowly beaten by Josef Newgarden in 2017 (13 points), Simon Pagenaud will experience a year without the slightest success in 2018. But the strength of character of the Habs is unsuspected and the year 2019 will see him enter the legend of French sport , with a victory at the legendary 500 Miles of Indianapolis. On May 26, 2019, Simon Pagenaud became the first Frenchman to inscribe his name in this motorsport monument 100 years after René Thomas. He finished the year again as vice-champion.
After the confinement linked to Covid-19 at the beginning of 2020, Simon Pagenaud provided two last mixed seasons for Team Penske. Eighth in 2020 and 2021, he was not retained by “Captain” Roger Penske at the end of the year. Simon Pagenaud finds refuge in 2022 in a team on a human scale, Meyer Shank Racing, where he meets the legend Hélio Castroneves. Together, they started with a bang with a success at the 24 Hours of Daytona in an Acura DPi. Simon Pagenaud finishes the 500 Indianapolis 2022 in 8th place.
© IndyCar Media
4. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Simon Pagenaud
Simon Pagenaud is not the most renowned French driver currently, but he has become one of the greatest ambassadors of French sport abroad. His IndyCar title and especially his success at the Indy 500 in 2019 are two feats that will not be achieved anytime soon by a Frenchman in the United States. All that remains is for him to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event that Simon Pagenaud has always dreamed of winning.
Results in IndyCar
associated researches
Drivers of his generation
