IndyCar

Simon Pagenaud: “We did what we had to do. We tried”

1 Mins read
Simon Pagenaud took his second victory of 2017 at Sonoma - Credit: Chris Jones / IndyCar

Simon Pagenaud did everything he could to make it back-to-back titles on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway as he took his second consecutive victory at the circuit, but Josef Newgarden’s second place ensured the American took the championship and not the Frenchman.

Taking an aggressive four-stop strategy and making it work took Pagenaud to the front of the field, but with Newgarden shadowing him in the closing stages, there was nothing he could do, and ultimately across the season he ended up thirteen points shy, but he was still happy that a Team Penske driver could clinch the title.

All four Team Penske drivers came into Sonoma with a chance of the championship, but only Pagenaud made the choice to take four steps, leaving the other three in his wake as well as Scott Dixon, who he jumped ahead of in the championship thanks to his victory.

“I want to thank everybody on the DXC Technology Chevrolet team today,” said Pagenaud. “It was a phenomenal performance, I think, all weekend.

“I want to congratulate Josef (Newgarden), of course, and Team Penske. I think our team this weekend and the whole season showed how strong everybody is at Team Penske. Back-to-back champions. It’s phenomenal. Great testament to a great team spirit and I’m very happy for him. He deserves it.

“We did what we had to do. We tried. We won the race; it wasn’t enough. It’s a whole championship. You’ve got to be strong on every race and I guess Josef was a little stronger this year so we’ll come back. Thirteen points (behind).

“Next year we’ll come back and give him a hell of a competition again.”

13769 posts

About author
Long time motorsport fanatic, covering Formula 1 and the occassional other series. Feel free to give him a follow on Twitter at @Paul11MSport.
Articles
Related posts
IndyCarOpen WheelOpinion

OPINION: Exhibition races have a place in IndyCar. The Thermal Club wasn't the right choice.

2 Mins read
IndyCar is racing this weekend, but not for points. That’s a sentence that hasn’t been written since 2008.
IndyCarOpen Wheel

Dale Coyne Racing adds Harvey, Braun and Siegel in split 2024 schedule

2 Mins read
After months of speculation, DCR announced its 2024 driver lineup on Tuesday, just three days before cars are on track for the first race of the IndyCar season.
IndyCarOpen Wheel

Marco Andretti returns to the #98 for 2024 Indy 500

1 Mins read
IndyCar veteran Marco Andretti will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 this year the same way he has for the past three: as a one-off affair with Andretti Global’s (formerly Andretti Autosport) #98 car.