IndyCar news: Romain Grosjean has 'overstayed his welcome' says Graham Rahal after Alabama incident
- Sean Fisher
- 3 May 2022
After the pair collided late on in Alabama, Graham Rahal has claimed former Formula One driver Romain Grosjean has overstayed his welcome in the sport.
Romain Grosjean appeared to make a superb start to life in IndyCar, claiming the 'rookie of the season award' last year following his 15th-placed finish in the standings.
The French driver has since moved to Andretti Autosport from Dale Coyne Racing and has started the new season well, climbing up to eighth after four races.
But his latest race in Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama didn't quite go to plan, with the 36-year-old colliding late on with rival Graham Rahal after Grosjean tried a late move.
With four laps remaining, Grosjean was fighting for seventh place with Rahal and tried a move down the inside of the American driver, only for the pair to make contact.
"That guy's a punk! He hit me ON PURPOSE!"@GrahamRahal is NOT HAPPY with @RGrosjean! 🍿 #INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/YVFTeBCfx1
— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 1, 2022
What's more, as they both exited the corner into the straight, Grosjean then made contact again with Rahal, causing him to momentarily lose control of his car.
Rahal accused Grosjean of making contact on purpose over his team radio, and the 33-year-old ended up losing his position, with Grosjean crossing the line seventh, while Rahal finished eight seconds later in eighth.
Following the race, Rahal continued to suggest that Grosjean's driving was over the limit, and referred to the Frenchman's reputation of causing incidents in Formula One.
After four races, the top ten in the standings are separated by just 60 points. 🚨 @PatricioOWard moved up four spots while @AlexPalou snatched the points lead away from Scott McLaughlin. #INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/lKJpVmwWJs
— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 2, 2022
"Good racing with Colton [Herta], Scotty [McLaughlin]. Good racing with a lot. Just one particular guy not so clean. We are gonna have to have a little sit down, a little conversation, about what the hell's going on here.
"I think the drivers need to get together - all of us - because I'm not the only one with a problem. It's quite a significant number of drivers that have had run-ins with this guy. As I said on TV, when the roles are reversed, officiating had better be consistent…because it's gonna be reversed at some stage. I'm not gonna play nice. This guy has overstayed his welcome."
"As another driver in the series told me: 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks', and it's kind of been his reputation over his whole career in Europe and we are learning his reputation quickly here.
"So, to me, if race control doesn't want to do anything then they won't do anything, but when we go and punt him they had better not do anything to me - which, in the past, I've been penalised for a lot less than that."
