Romain Grosjean will soon head west to reset his motorsport career, the former Haas F1 driver having signed a deal to race in IndyCar's road and street races this year with Dale Coyne Racing.
With only four oval events earmarked for the 2021 season, road circuits and street track will represent the bulk of IndyCar's schedule that will kick off at Barber Motorsports Park on April 18.
As a rookie in the series, Grosjean will therefore forego racing at the Texas Motor Speedway's double-header event in early May and in the Indy 500 that will take place later in the month.
However, the 34-year-old may eventually try his hand at oval racing next summer by taking part in the IndyCar round that will be held at Gateway's 1.25-mile short oval in Madison, Illinois.
"I’m very excited for this opportunity to race in the United States in the NTT IndyCar Series," said Grosjean, whose career in F1 ended abruptly in the wake of his fiery crash in Bahrain.
"I had different options in front of me for this coming season and choosing to go IndyCar racing was definitively my favorite one… although, I’m not ready yet to take on the ovals!
"IndyCar has a much more level playing field than what I have been used to in my career so far. It will be exciting to challenge for podiums and wins again."
"My left hand is still healing, but we are just about ready to get back into the racecar and start this next chapter of my career."
Coyne is partnering this year with Rick Ware Racing for its N°.51 and N°.52 entries for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series, and the team will run under the Dale Coyne Racing with RWR banner.
"We’re thrilled to be entering our first full season of NTT IndyCar Series racing with Dale Coyne Racing, and to have a driver of the caliber of Romain Grosjean to run the street and road courses makes it that much more exciting for us. We’re looking forward to this season," Ware said.
Grosjean will be up and running in the US in two weeks when he undergoes his first test with his team's Honda-powered Dallara at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama on February 18.
The Frenchman will test alongside Ed Jones who will return to IndyCar with the N°. 18 Coyne with Vasser Sullivan Honda entry.
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