Each driver has constructed up a provide of instruments and tips of their respective arsenal, however Romain Grosjean has one that’s subtly distinctive.
The 38-year-old Swiss-born Frenchman has utilized the button on the steering wheel that gives him a drink – even when one isn’t relevant within the automobile – as a part of a knowledge level for areas to deal with throughout debriefs.
Crew members of Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) shared with Motorsport.com their studying of Grosjean’s strategy throughout offseason testing, after they seen he continued to hit the button regardless of not having a drink within the automobile.
It was solely then they realized he makes use of it to dissect corners of every lap in an effort to provide extra detailed suggestions to the engineers for enhanced setups.
This strategy has helped Grosjean rating 5 top-10s, together with recording JHR’s best-ever results of fourth in June at Laguna Seca, by the 12 points-paying rounds. He additionally has two Quick Six appearances with the group, qualifying a better of fifth every time (St. Petersburg, Toronto).
Grosjean instructed Motorsport.com: “The drink button, when there’s no drink, it’s a mark on the information, so it’s simple for the engineer to search out out as a result of when do the debrief and also you do runs – you’re like, ‘Possibly it was Flip 3 on lap 4 or…’ and as an alternative of making an attempt to recollect which quantity or which nook it was, let’s press the inexperienced button.
“Then you will have a mark on the information, after which whenever you simply open up the group knowledge and also you see the place the mark is on, I do know what occurred after which you may discuss it as an alternative of making an attempt to recollect the place it was and which it was on in any respect and simply press the button, it’s there.
“I’ve a small mind, I suppose, so this might make it simple!”
Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photographs
So far as the origin of Grosjean’s good but easy idea, he doesn’t keep in mind precisely when however is aware of it began within the early days of his Components 1 profession.
“We had the button, or perhaps it was the acknowledge button for pitting, in Components 1,” stated Grosjean, a five-time runner-up in IndyCar.
“After they known as ‘pit’ so that you don’t essentially have to reply for those who had the acknowledge button. So, I feel I form of translated that into, ‘Okay, I can use the button to sign one thing.’”
A veteran of 179 begins, Grosjean transformed that trait in his transition to the IndyCar Sequence in 2021, the place he debuted with Dale Coyne Racing in a partial marketing campaign prior to 2 full-time campaigns with Andretti International.
When requested if it was a typical follow with drivers in Europe, Grosjean paused after which acknowledged: “It depends upon what group, however no, I don’t suppose so. I simply attempt to make my life as simple as I can.”
Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
And Grosjean will probably be flattered by any present or potential drivers that undertake this methodology: “If I get seen in one thing, I’ll take it. That’s a very good factor with IndyCar, I feel, we’re on the market making an attempt laborious to be the perfect driver and it’s not like we’re hiding issues from the others, so I don’t thoughts.”
Upon showcasing the button hack to JHR, although, he may see them implementing that as a useful resource for years to come back.
“I simply used my expertise and so they took it onboard and so they thought it was a fairly cool concept,” Grosjean stated. “So, I suppose they’re going to make use of it sooner or later.
“However yeah, , I’ve been doing this for 20-plus years and, in fact, you be taught yearly.
“That’s the fantastic thing about sport, is you may be outdated with out being outdated. I don’t suppose you lose your capability however you acquire increasingly more expertise.”
