IndyCar: Grosjean is upset he missed out on the win in Alabama

Roman Grosjean started from pole position at yesterday’s Alabama Grand Prix and led more than half the distance, but finished second as he beat the attack of Scott McLaughlin, the New Zealand driver and three-time champion of the Australian Supercars series, couldn’t stop. IndyCar.

At the Barber Motorsports Park circuit, McLaughlin, who plays for the Penske team, opted for the tactic of three pit stops, while Grosjean only visited the Andretti Autosport pits twice, so by the end of the race his car’s tires were worn out. more.

Scott made his second pit stop on lap 39 with yellow flags on the track before returning to the track second to Roman’s Dallara-Honda and going after the leader. Grosjean made his last pit stop on lap 60, McLaughlin on lap 63, and then the fight for victory literally went wheel to wheel.

As a result, the New Zealander was able to get ahead of Roman on lap 71 of the race when he locked up the wheels in turn 5 and failed to keep the car on the optimal trajectory.

“It’s a pity because the tactic of three pit stops on this circuit has never been successful before and only today’s race was an exception,” said Grosjean after the finish. – We had a great car, I drove well, gave everything, but we were unlucky because of the yellow flags.

Congratulations Scott, he deserved to win. We earned a lot of points, but our day will come!”

Third was McLaughlin’s teammate Will Power, who tried to overtake Grosjean in the closing laps, but held onto second position.

Ahead of the season’s fifth stage, which will be held on the road version of the Indianapolis track on May 13, the battle for championship leadership escalated. Markus Erickson of the Chip Ganassi Racing team remains in the front row of the individual standings, just three points behind Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward, who finished fourth at Alabama.

Grosjean, who finished second in two races in a row, is fifth, with McLaughlin four points ahead.