Simon Pagenaud

Simon Pagenaud is a driver who competed in the IndyCar Series from 2007 to 2023. The Frenchman won 15 of the 193 races he started, including the 2019 Indy 500. He also claimed the overall IndyCar championship in 2016.

Successful Debut in Champ Car Atlantics

Frenchman Simon Pagenaud made a strong impression in 2006 by winning the Champ Car Atlantics championship in his first year with a new car. Although he won only one race that season, he stood on the podium six times and was consistently at the front. His speed and consistency were enough to keep drivers like Graham Rahal, Andreas Wirth, and Raphael Matos behind him.

Promotion to Champ Car

Pagenaud used the $2 million bonus for winning the title to secure a promotion within Team Australia to their Champ Car team. There, he made a strong impression by finishing in the top ten in ten of the fourteen races.

Switch to Sports Cars

The reunification of Champ Car and IndyCar temporarily ended Pagenaud's open-wheel career, prompting him to switch to sports cars. He performed strongly again in the American Le Mans Series. In 2009, he finished second in the LMP1 championship with Ferran Motorsports and, a year later, won the LMP2 class with Highcroft Racing.

Return to Open-Wheel Racing

In 2011, Pagenaud did not have a full-time sports car contract but competed in several races for Peugeot, including a second-place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Later that year, a return to open-wheel racing began to take shape. After an impressive debut in the reunited IndyCar Series in Alabama, where he finished eighth as a replacement for Ana Beatriz, he made two more substitute appearances. His performances impressed Sam Schmidt Motorsports, who signed him as a full-time IndyCar driver for 2012.

Breakthrough in the IndyCar Series

Pagenaud’s first full season in the IndyCar Series was highly successful. He achieved four podium finishes and ended the championship in fifth place. The team extended his contract for 2013, during which Pagenaud secured his long-awaited first victory in the second race in Detroit. He repeated this success in Baltimore and finished the season third in the championship, with two wins and eight top-ten finishes.

In 2014, Pagenaud entered his third season with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. While he won two more races, he finished fifth in the championship.

Time with Team Penske

Pagenaud’s strong performances with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports caught the attention of Roger Penske, who signed him in 2015 to drive a fourth car for the team. Despite strong performances in practice sessions, Pagenaud struggled during races, failing to secure a win and finishing a disappointing 11th in the championship.

In 2016, Pagenaud made a remarkable comeback. He dominated the season, winning five races and claiming his first IndyCar Series championship. In 2017, he had another strong season with two wins and a second-place finish in the championship, just 13 points behind teammate Josef Newgarden.

The 2018 season was more challenging for Pagenaud. For the first time since 2015, he went winless, despite continuing to race for Team Penske.

Triumph at the Indianapolis 500

In 2019, Pagenaud experienced a significant turnaround. He claimed three pole positions, three victories, and fought for the championship until the final round, ultimately losing to teammate Josef Newgarden as he had in 2017. However, the season was unforgettable thanks to his victory in the Indianapolis 500 from pole position and his third win in the INDYCAR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield.

Later Years with Penske

Following his strong 2019 season, Pagenaud had a challenging year in 2020. He earned seven top-ten finishes and one win, ending the season in eighth place. In 2021, he once again went winless, finishing eighth in the championship despite nine top-ten finishes and a third-place result in the Indy 500.

Move to Meyer Shank Racing

After racing for Team Penske from 2015 through 2021, Pagenaud began a new chapter in his IndyCar career in 2022 with Meyer Shank Racing. However, his time with the team proved underwhelming. A severe crash midway through the 2023 season at Mid-Ohio prematurely ended both his season and his IndyCar career.