Grosjean "not forgotten how to drive" in IndyCar return
- Dan Jones
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Romain Grosjean marked his return from a year absent in IndyCar with a steady run to 13th place in the opening practice session for this weekend's Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, in his first session back at Dale Coyne Racing.
Grosjean, who turns 40 in April, served as PREMA Racing's reserve driver throughout 2025 after losing his seat at Juncos Hollinger Racing at the end of 2024. Many may have expected that to be the end of Grosjean's IndyCar career, but the French driver has since been provided another opportunity with Dale Coyne Racing, the team he made his IndyCar debut with in 2021.
"Yeah, I felt good to be back in the car," reflected Grosjean after the opening day of practice on the Florida streets. "It's a racetrack that I think suits really well IndyCar.
"I've had good qualifying, good races here seasons in the past. Felt good to be back in the car. Got to learn a lot, bits and pieces that we can improve. But generally I think there's potential in the car, and that's what we wanted to see. Also, I've not forgotten how to drive, so that's good news."
Grosjean's return to the team was an open secret for months within the paddock. Grosjean had been linked with a return ever since the end of the 2025 season which saw rumours only intensify after he was spotted at IndyCar's annual Content Days in January - where drivers do all pre-season filming and other relevant media activities.
That said, it took until February 13th for Grosjean to be confirmed at Coyne in the No.18 entry, the 10-time Formula One podium-sitter lining up alongside series rookie Dennis Hauger.
"It's just for the fun of it, you know, seeing how the media could keep the secret ongoing," said Grosjean of the constant rumours about his Coyne return. "Worked out pretty well."
2026 marks five years since Grosjean first embarked on his IndyCar journey with the team, his first time in a race car after his horrifying accident at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. That season saw Grosjean take three podiums and a pole position, having opted to do a road/street course-only schedule.
"In 2021 I think we had a very unique season, very special, reflected Grosjean of the year. "In 27 years of racing, probably at two or three of those, so I hope that somehow we can at least go to 75% and replicate that."
It was Coyne that first gave Grosjean that opportunity and once again proved a helping hand in getting his IndyCar career back on track, and Grosjean gave some particularly fond words toward his team owner.
"Yeah, you know, I love Dale since day one. I really do. He's someone that gets the best out of people. Yeah, I just love working with him. I think he does manage to make me feel at home, make me feel good, and eventually get the best out of me.
"I think he manage to get some really good people alongside him, really good racers. Of course, it's not all perfect, like everywhere, but generally, I feel like I can be myself, and I can be alongside the best of my version."
Despite this, it was not the smoothest of returns on-track for Grosjean as a small technical gremlin put a minor complication to his day.
"This morning there's a lot going on. We had a bit of a radio issue, which didn't help us out there. IndyCar is very competitive, and it's very tough to be fast, and those tracks don't let you make a mistake, which is the beauty of it, but also very stressful.
"It took a little bit of getting back into it, but I'm happy to be here. I think the Phoenix test went pretty well by the end of day two. All in all, that worked well."
