Former F1 Racer Grosjean Still May Get IndyCar Chance in 2021

From Autoweek

• Romain Grosjean, 34, is said to be close to a deal to run a full season with Dale Coyne Racing in IndyCar.

• Grosjean's last race in Formula 1 ended in near disaster when his car careened into a steel barrier and burst into flames.

• An IndyCar deal may include ovals, which is something Grosjean has expressed concern about in the past.

Former Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean, who will long be remembered for escaping a fiery crash at Bahrain in what turned out to be his final race with the Haas F1 Team, says his Formula 1 career is probably over.

But that doesn't mean his driving career is over, as Grosjean is said to be weighing a full-time ride offer with Dale Coyne Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series.

"From a driving point of view, I think it's over," said Grosjean in regards to Formula 1.

At the time of the crash in Bahrain, Grosjean, 34, already knew he would be leaving Formula 1 after being dropped for 2021 by Haas. Now, he tells Ouest France newspaper: "I don't want to come back just to come back. That doesn't interest me and all the good seats are taken anyway. There is little point in coming back."

Reports have suggested Grosjean, who plans to stay involved in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, is close to a 2021 IndyCar deal with Dale Coyne Racing.

"It's a nice championship with good drivers," he said when asked about the rumors of a move to IndyCar. "It is a championship I am watching closely, yes. Whether it's done, or close to happening, it's still a long way to go. There are races on ovals and technically it's complicated, so I'm talking about it with my family, too.

"If is done, so much the better, and if not, we will do something else."

Should Grosjean make it to the IndyCar grid, he would become the fifth current F1 driver in the American series, joining Alexander Rossi, Marcus Ericsson, Takuma Sato and Sebastien Bourdais. Bourdais drove for Coyne as recently as 2019.

Grosjean has also been linked with Peugeot's return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"Clearly that's one of the things I want to do," said Grosjean. "This year they are between two regulations, but we know that other manufacturers want to come back by 2023."

Would you be excited to see Romain Grosjean in an IndyCar grid that already as four former F1 drivers? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.