Romain Grosjean still sore but “really happy” with IndyCar test debut
Romain Grosjean says he is “really happy” with his IndyCar test debut in what marked his return to a racecar for the first time🅺 since his Formula 1 crash in the 🥀Bahrain Grand Prix.
The 34-year-old Frenchman completed 83 laps as he took part in a 12-car IndyCar test on Tuesday, having signed up to race in the American championship for 2021 with Dale Coyne🎐 Racing following his departure from the Haas F1 team.
Grosjean, who will contest all 13 road and street courses but s♛kip the oval rounds on the 2021 IndyCar schedule, was delighted with his performance, despite suffering a spin and soreness as he continues to recover from the injuries he sustained in his fiery accident in Bahrain last November.
"It felt like home," Grosjean told IndyCar.com. "I didn't have any apprehension or anything. It's obviously a new car and I had to adjust a little bit to my new driving position, but things qui𒊎ckly felt quite smooth.
"I then discovered the joys of not having a power steering whee🔥l. I don't regret all the hours in the gym, but maybe I'll do some more, just in case!
// — NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar)“You can actually use different lines, whereas in Formula 1 you may be more stuck to the ideal line because of h𓂃ow the aerodynamics ꦦwork.
“I made a mistake this morning, and I spun [in Turn 1]. I was stuck in the gravel. [The track] has consequences, and you need to stay ꦰwithin the limits, which I always quite enjoy.”
Grosjean admitted his first outing since his terrifying Bahrain crash was “a bit painful”, but felt hi𝓀s left hand - which was badly burned as he escaped his car - held up well to the test.
"It's actually done very well," Grosjean explained. "I had a biᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚg snap on the last run [of the morning], and that w𓆏as a bit painful. I expect those. I know it's not fully recovered and is sensitive.
"It went OK. It's not perfect, there's a nice big blister oꦅn my left thumb which is not pretty but driving wise it was OK. I was being a bit careful on some of the kerbs, but generওally it hasn't been a limitation.
"I didn't really feel it in the car so I guess that was fine. Putting the gloves on and off i🎀s not always nice so I tend to keep my left glove on, but generally it's♐ been OK."
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