Romain Grosjean was beaten by Josef Newgarden in the IndyCar race in Long Beach – In the closing stages, the Frenchman pressed the brakes
It was a close battle between Josef Newgarden, Romain Grosjean and Alex Palou. In the end, Penske driver Newgarden won the race, while Grosjean settled for second after a strong attack against current IndyCar champion Palou. Grosjean explained that he could have gone for the crowbar in the closing stages in the fight for the win, but deliberately refrained from doing so.
“There are not many options on a street circuit when you are on fresh tyres or there is a battle between cars with red and black tyres,” Grosjean said. “Because that just evens out over time. If I’d got past Alex on the first try, I’m sure I’d have had a chance afterwards to attack Josef a lap later as well.”
Grosjean praised Palou for his defensive manoeuvre, which held off the Frenchman for at least a few corners. But the ex-Haas driver then got past the Spaniard. Afterwards, Grosjean had no push-to-pass left to attack Newgarden. On top of that, his red tyres were clearly wearing out, while the competition was on the longer-lasting black tyres.
“Josef just didn’t make any mistakes,” Grosjean said of the finale of the IndyCar race at Long Beach, which ultimately ended under yellow due to an accident involving Takuma Sato. “But I don’t think it changed anything,” the Frenchman reacted to the late yellow. “I know I have to drive a bit differently this year because I’m trying to win the title. I can’t just go full throttle all the time. “
The Frenchman had his eye on the big picture and that is the IndyCar Championship. The former Formula One driver moved from Dale-Coyne to Andretti after his rookie season in 2021 to get a shot at the title with the top team. That’s why the 35-year-old held back in the closing stages, as a potential retirement in the battle for first place would have hurt him more than a safe second place.
It was Grosjean’s fourth podium in the US IndyCar Series and first of the 2022 season with Andretti. The Frenchman sits sixth in the standings after three rounds, just 51 points behind Newgarden, who took the overall lead with his second consecutive win. Grosjean therefore still has every chance of having a say at the top thanks to second place on the street circuit in California.
