Los Angeles (AFP)
Three months after the false start caused by the coronavirus, Simon Pagenaud, winner of the Indianapolis 500 miles, retains the ambition to repeat the feat, during the 2020 season of IndyCar which opens Saturday in Texas and which he will be one of the favorites for the title.
After having been forced to reshape its calendar several times, according to the cancellation of events (seven in total) in cities and states where the directives do not allow their progress, the IndyCar championship will count this year 14 Grand Prix.
The first of them in Forth Worth will take place behind closed doors, although the governor of Texas has authorized the presence of spectators at sporting events for a week, up to 25% of the capacity. Other GPs should be run without an audience, even if the IndyCar obviously dreams of seeing the 500 Miles of Indianapolis disputed in front of its 400,000 fans gathered each year.
A mythical race which constitutes the piece of bravery of the season and of which Pagenaud, defending champion, made his "objective number one".
"I want to relive moments like the ones I experienced in 2019. Replicating a victory is impossible, but trying to do it again, surely differently, is another story. I worked a lot on that, on myself, tried to work the concentration again, always go further, "he told AFP.
- "Increased motivation" -
In the meantime, the 36-year-old French driver says he is ready to start the season in Texas after a forced break that seems to have done him good.
"I feel a lot cooler because there was so much time when I could rest, focus a lot more on myself (...) We are starting this weekend and I have a motivation really increased. We waited for this moment like children waiting for Christmas, I think we are all in the starting blocks. I feel ready, I have more experience today, it's a big advantage."
Pandemic requires, the opening at Fort Worth will be done according to very strict security protocols. In addition to the pilots, staffs and officials will be limited in the paddocks. Everyone will have to carry out a Covid-19 test and will be provided with personal protective equipment, while having to respect social distancing.
As far as the race itself is concerned, the drivers will have to cover 248 laps as at night, as in recent seasons, but 200, after free practice in the morning and qualification in the afternoon.
"They are trying to concentrate (the format of the races). It will be interesting and it may even change the future of the sport, I think. Because if it works, I think that it will limit the costs and that it may be beneficial for the teams, "said Pagenaud.
- The new "Aeroscreen" -
Another novelty, not imposed by the pandemic, the pilots will have to adapt to a new element on their car with the "Aeroscreen", a glass protection around the cockpit whose weight is quite substantial and has forced the stables to anticipate the aerodynamic differences generated.
Pagenaud's main rival will be Josef Newgarden, the defending champion, first crowned in 2017. The 29-year-old American (also at Penske) who had to wait until the last race last season to win, will want to keep this momentum.
New Zealand's Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing), five-time champion, will be another experienced opponent to watch and the next generation also points out, with Colton Herta (Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport), who turned 18 last year years the youngest winner of an IndyCar race in Austin.
These runners among the thirty entrants this year, including the other French Sébastien Bourdais (AJ Foyt Enterprises), have also already had to note the date of August 23, at which the 500 miles of Indianapolis will take place.
Just like the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Arrow McLaren SP) who will try for the third time, after failures in 2017 and 2019, to win this so prestigious race which is missing from his record.
© 2020 AFP