Former Haas F1 Driver Romain Grosjean Gets IndyCar Deal on His Terms

From Autoweek

• Romain Grosjean is making the move from Formula 1, where he's raced since 2009.

• Grosjean will stay away from ovals in the U.S., and says that the crash in Bahrain that nearly killed him is a factor in that decision.

• The former Haas F1 driver plans to head to the U.S. in 15 days to begin his new career in IndyCar.

Romain Grosjean is heading to the NTT IndyCar Series and will race on the road and street tracks with Dale Coyne Racing.

Grosjan, who made the announcement in Europe on Wednesday, said that he had been talking to the team even before his crash in Bahrain, with the aim being to do all the races, but he said the accident changed his outlook—at least for now.

“I was in contact a couple of weeks before Imola,” Grosjean said. “And Dale (Coyne) made us an offer. Originally I was going to do the full season, but obviously Bahrain happened and for a moment I thought I was dead.

"Being a father of three kids it doesn’t feel the right thing for my kids and my wife. Maybe there are options for short tracks but not super speedways. I don't think I can risk that. But in the future? It’s always hard to predict. After the accident my manager (Martin Reiss) said “Let’s forget IndyCar” but I still want to do it. The risk is still there. Motorsport is always going to be risky. What level do you accept? Maybe in the future I will do it. I don’t know.”