In 2020, the two full-time drivers competing for the NTT IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Award were 20-year-old Dutchman Rinus VeeKay and Alex Palou, a 24-year old Spaniard.
They acquitted themselves well in the 2021 IndyCar season opener. VeeKay bounced back from a nasty testing accident a week earlier at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that left him with a broken finger to claim sixth place at Barber Motorsports Park. Palou looked even better. In his first start for the powerhouse Chip Ganassi Racing organization, Palou qualified third and drove a smart and impressive race to claim his first IndyCar Series race win.
Meanwhile, a new crop of “rookie” drivers has arrived on the Indy car scene for 2021. But this trio can already boast of decades of experience that has resulted in numerous championships around the world.
Three-time Australian V-8 Supercar champion Scott McLaughlin is the youngster of the bunch at age 27. McLaughlin had the good fortune to join Dick Johnson Racing when that famous Australian team entered a partnership with Team Penske. From 2017-2020, McLaughlin won 48 of 113 Supercar races as well as the championship in his final three years in the series.
After exploring options in NASCAR for McLaughlin, Roger Penske and Team Penske boss Tim Cindric instead provided him with a new challenge that will take the New Zealander back to his open-wheel roots.
“It’s been a whirlwind adventure,” McLaughlin said prior to finishing 14th at Barber. “The last three months, it’s been awesome to get acquainted with the team, get an understanding of INDYCAR racing, visit the Holy Grail in Indy at the Speedway there, and get out on the oval, which was fantastic. I still have a hell of a lot to learn, but I’m really enjoying it.”
Romain Grosjean needs no introduction to readers of this publication. A solid Formula 1 career that netted ten podium finishes ended in spectacular, fiery fashion last year in Bahrain, and cast doubt on the 35-year old Frenchman’s hopes of racing Indy cars in 2021. Grosjean’s hands healed, and he signed a deal to compete in the IndyCar Series road course and street course events for Dale Coyne Racing.
Coyne operates a small but highly effective team that has given drivers including Paul Tracy and Scott Pruett their start in Indy car racing. Working with fellow Frenchman Olivier Boisson as engineer, Grosjean had a successful opening weekend at Barber. He barely missed the Fast Six pole position shootout, gridding an impressive seventh. Grosjean went on to finish tenth in the race.
“Before the race, I had a big, big mix of emotions,” Grosjean said. “It was quite a difficult moment jumping in a car after what happened last year. Then it was time to go racing, and for me, it was a big day. We’re here racing with the big boys, with Penske, with Ganassi, with Andretti.”
The IndyCar rookie with the highest amount of publicity, yet the lowest expectations is stock car star Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is embarking on a road- and street-course campaign similar to Grosjean’s, driving for the pedigreed Chip Ganassi Racing organization.
Johnson, 45, grew up in Southern California. He attended the Long Beach Grand Prix on a regular basis, idolized four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, and had dreams of becoming an Indy car driver. But after cutting his teeth in off-road and desert racing (like Mears), Johnson’s career took him into NASCAR, where he became one of the most decorated drivers of all time, matching the championship tally of Cup Series legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
Johnson retired from full-time stock car competition at the end of 2020. He didn’t need to pursue an Indy car opportunity, but he did. Johnson has a beautiful family and all the money he could ever want. He’s doing this almost purely for pleasure and professional growth. And what an environment, with six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and promising charger Palou as teammates, and Indy car legend Dario Franchitti as driver coach.
Johnson was happy to not qualify last at Barber. He spun during the race and finished three laps down in 19th place. But he might have been wearing an even bigger smile than his race-winning teammate Palou.
“Very happy just to have finished,” Johnson remarked. “Just a ton of learning experience throughout the day, and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”
