An Interview With My IndyCar Engineer | Romain Grosjean

Hey guys, Romain here, and I am joined by my IndyCar engineer Oliver (aka Tintin). In this interview: we break down the relationships between engineers and drivers here at IndyCar. Oliver is my race engineer and has been since I first came to IndyCar, and he is pretty great! He describes in detail his exact role on the team and the duties he undertakes to make sure we function as the top priority.
00:00 Intro
00:45 The role of an IndyCar engineer
3:00 His career and how we met
4:54 Different types of circuits
7:18 The role of each wheel on ovals
10:29 Qualification adjustments
11:22 Heavy calendar
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#indycar #engineer #romain

[@bennyfactor]

Even as a lifelong Indy500 fan, this was a lot of new and fascinating information for me! Thanks to you & Olivier so much for making it!

[@9rows]

I've been watching IndyCar racing since 1982. The part of this video where Olivier talked about the set up of each corner of the car for oval racing might just be the best 3 minutes of IndyCar video I've ever seen.

[@thomasgoodwin2648]

Sorry, just a lowly sim racer here, but I gotta say that I absolutely ❤ hearing more about setup. Those that don't know give lot's of advice, and those that know are usually silent. A few minutes of simple explanations from a true expert is so much more gold than hours of 'how to setup the car MY way' lectures. TY! And please, MORE! Kick the fires n light the tires!

[@soisaidtogod4248]

LOL, get yourself a real car to track. Zero centrifugal forces in a chair at home. Driving make believe yet seeking set up tips?

[@thomasgoodwin2648]

@@soisaidtogod4248 Diverting some excess yacht polish funds to buy the car is easy. The trouble is knowing which countries to conquer to gain the most competent pit slaves. After all, raising an army of robotic hairdressers and telephone sanitizers isn't cheap these days. I know it's shocking to hear, but not everyone has unlimited resources and many are forced to make due with what's available.

[@souldry]

@@thomasgoodwin2648 you didn’t have to kill him.

[@thomasgoodwin2648]

@@souldry Apologies, but decades of "It's just a game" has left me bitter and reactionary. Racing is racing regardless of format, so any opportunity to introduce leetists to the chicane wall I will take. 😉

[@souldry]

@@thomasgoodwin2648 fair enough

[@recallbarack]

It took a Frenchman to explain to me, a Moroccan indy fan, how a car races on US courses 😁 Well done gentlemen. GrosJean, make sure we get autographes in Long Beach, next year 😂 Merci.

[@stephenbritton9297]

I really enjoy Indycar because of how close everyone is on lap times.

[@soisaidtogod4248]

It is all scripted.

[@danprotheroe]

@@soisaidtogod4248 i don't think so. and i do think it about the big american ball sports, nascar fixes the daytona 500 but i think the average race is legit and indy is a level below that. atm i just don't see the motivation/reward for indy managment to bother.

[@xtlm]

@@soisaidtogod4248 lol how is Indycar of all things scripted, have you ever watched a race?

[@HoopleHeadUSA]

Accurately and quickly translating feeling to numbers is such a tough skill. Like making dreams reality

[@claytondavis9325]

What a great insight into the less visible aspects of racing! Thanks Romain and Olivier!

[@Ronandabarbarian]

I really enjoyed this conversation! Would love to hear more about the responsibilities of the other engineers on the team! Good luck for the rest of the year!

[@ChrisConner1]

This is awesome. It's what I love about Indycar- learning all the details of things we can't see directly combined with the 3 types of courses.

[@edinva1]

This is great. Thank you both. IndyCar could use a lot more informative discussion’s like this to attract more fans to indycar racing

[@zachbishop5421]

So cool to see Olivier on the channel keep pushing Romain your the man!

[@nathanmaynard131]

Definitely can tell you two are very comfortable with each other! A very informative video, but it felt like a casual conversation between friends instead of an interview. Good luck on the Indy RC from a Hoosier native!

[@kristinemcclary5559]

Lived in Indianapolis so always went to the Indy 500. Always an Andretti fan. Started following F1….love Team Haas and Grosjean was a driver. Congratulations to Grosjean to driving in Indy Car. This was the BEST interview!!!

[@deanhirasawa1414]

Wow what a great informative video Romain! Thx to both Olivier and yourself for making this!! Very cool to learn about the tire loading at Indy. I was also surprised to hear mechanical setup in IndyCar is actually more important than in F1, simply because the GP car is so aero dependent! Once again thank you for another great video and looking forward to seeing you guys in Toronto.

[@rogerneff1534]

Fantastic interview. Thanks from all us tech nerds. I’m a huge F1 fan (since 2018) and now a huge Indycar fan of 2 years. I don’t compare the two as the each have a different approach and I love each for their approach.

[@CJ-zi9fg]

As someone who has just finished a masters degree in motorsport engineering to pursue a career in race engineering, this was an amazing insight and more valuable knowledge, thank you romain for first of all doing this for the entertainment, but more importantly for giving me valuable information and ideas for my career path. Genuinely, thank you. Please don’t stop the videos!

[@moniquethe0G]

What a comprehensive look into a crucial element of racing. Thank you Romain and Olivier for a look inside IndyCar. Best of luck for the rest of this year!

[@atonefew]

Enjoying your interviews so far nice job ! How about a interview with Marcus Erickson having the two of you discussing what its like to drive an Indy Car vs F1 everything that's better or worse between the two series. Keep up the great work.

[@indicasmok398]

Indycar holds so much passion within. Love to see the intricacies in ways never seen before!

[@richardwintle1020]

Really interesting - thanks for this. Particularly fascinating is the discussion of the different roles of the four different tires on ovals.

[@jamesonetwenty]

Thanks for sharing the technical detail. I had never heard a description of the way each tire works on the ovals. Great video.

[@stevebarnes5243]

Romain!!!! Another great informative interview. I've been to 7 F1 US Grand Prix, 25 Indy 500 races ,practices and qualifications, Mid Ohio road course, KY short oval and the information you bring to racing fans is spot on. Keep up the great interviews that dig deep into what makes Indy Car racing so much fun to experience! Keep your foot to the floor!

[@JAY-ns1dg]

Très interessant ! Good job Romain to explain and expose people as much important as the engineers ! Great channel !

[@jakehoover6655]

Need more of this style. Love it!

[@aid-kit11]

Great video Romain! It’s great to here all the information from you and Olivier

[@kaarthik9]

Insightful conversation. Thanks Rome!

[@courgettee]

This was such an interesting video, so cool to hear about the different adjustments and setup considerations from Oliver.

[@mikulitsi1819]

Really love these interviews as these are insightful. Hope there are more coming

[@Race0892]

Currently as a Master Student in Enginneering, this video was fantastic at providing insight on all the engineering positions in IndyCar. Awesome content.

[@michaelsturm6213]

This is really interesting content. Thank you and good luck in the upcoming races!

[@danieljung5036]

Nice video! Interesting! Keep the videos coming Romain. Take care.

[@SDube521]

Love this series, Romain! Please keep them coming

[@bengilbert5876]

Awesome video, it was really interesting listening to your engineer talk about his job because he has my dream job. Hopefully I can work hard and make it come true one day. It would be really interesting to hear more about his path up to where he is today.

[@AzovAzza]

Romain, I absolutely love your KZbin content! This is another great video, brother!! Cheers! 🏎😎👊🏻

[@crypto1300]

Love these types of videos

[@randygravel2057]

My mom said I’m really smart and I didn’t know about the differential and tires on ovals.

[@shimi_raikkonen]

Thank you for the insights, Olivier/Romain.

[@souldry]

I’m really enjoying the content. Thanks Romain.

[@XenonArcher]

this video was very good. im not really a follower of indycar but i think knowing that the teams are much more condensed compared to F1 while also having to essentially manage and work out 3 completely different types of car setups depending on the track. and of course thats not even considering how varied each setup is for just ovals alone. it gives me a lot more respect for the teams and individuals involved. of course it still requires insane skill and focus to manage an F1 car etc even with a large team like mercedes, red bull and ferrari, but the fact its only a few individuals that are responsible for your cars setup etc is kinda nuts, especially when they essentially manage 3 different cars almost. Olivier also seems like a really good engineer. super chill and friendly based on this vid, and he knows what he's doing clearly. awesome to see. id honestly love to hear more from him.

[@Dking863]

Formula one SUCKS.. even though I watch webby race since Senna and Mansell were racing.. it's all about money.. how can anyone compete with Mercedes that has a budget of 475 million a year compared to red bulls 350 million.. then it drops to 150 million for Hass and Williams.. it needs to be regulated with a budget cap.. make it fair for all drivers then let's see who's the best

[@XenonArcher]

@@Dking863 have you been living under a rock? 1. Red bulls budget has always been insane. 2. Ferrari literally got given more prize money cus it was ferrari. (Was referred to as a historical bonus. Meant ferrari in 3rd still won more money than 1st and 2nd. No joke) 3. None of those are true anymore as there is a budget cap. This is the second season with it in place. Mercedes are definitely 3rd fastest atm

[@Dking863]

@@XenonArcher so Ferrari owns F1 .. that's crap man.. look at how many engineers left Mercedes last year and went to red bull.. since Perez started racing in F1 he never had a car that was fast until this year.. but Josh verstappen is a jack ass who's mouth needs a filter.. I think red bull should let Perez try and win it this year.. but Josh will just take his son and move him to another team if he doesn't get his way.. that's why it's called the billionaires boy club! 👦 nikita mazapin was a joke and his father threatened Hass racing saying they built his son a slower car and to build him a new fresh car or he'd pull his money.. the old driver returned and he's a far better driver than that joke! It's money that's racing around the circuit! I raced cars for five years and won over two hundred trophies.. it was always about money.. and the fist fights in the pits was always going on.. you had to beat them on the track and then in the garage!

[@DGARedRaven]

Thanks for shining some light on some of the relatively unsung heroes of motorsports, Romain! :)

[@jonlinen225]

Fantastic video. Thank you!

[@jaker.3527]

Love the content !! Thank you!

[@joebarrera334]

Excellent and informative video!

[@chakky533]

thank you for posting this interview. this is such an interesting channel

[@TharishRavin13]

Thank you so much for this ❤️ I am trying to be an IndyCar engineer and this we really helpful ☺️

[@Camushura]

Very cool and interesting interview. I learned a lot. Merci les gars et continuez comme ça 😎

[@Lord.Ningirsu]

C'est hilarant deux franco, dans une entrevue en Anglais🤣🤣🤣 Mais sinon Romain, tu fais partie de mes essenciel sur YT. Et je suis ta carrière depuis tes début en F1 et tu es celui qui m'a fait revenir vers le Indy ... GOOD JOB CHAMP💪👍

[@Bolt_theG35]

Cool insight. Great video!

[@nateroston6145]

Bonjour Romain, Je suis un grand supporter de vous! Votre expérience en tant que chauffeur est stupéfiante et je pense que vous êtes le meilleur! J'étudie actuellement l'ingénierie mécanique aux États-Unis et je me demandais si vous aviez des conseils concernant la réalisation d'un emploi ou d'un stage dans une équipe Indycar? C'est mon rêve de devenir ingénieur de course comme Olivier et j'ai consacré ma vie à la poursuite de cet objectif. A chaque fois que je regarde Indycar, je me dis que c'est mon avenir. L'inspiration d'Olivier et toi me permet de poursuivre ce rêve en continu afin de le concrétiser un jour. Merci beaucoup pour tout ce que vous faites sur et hors piste! Bonne chance pour le reste de la saison!

[@mosca3289]

Super discussion.

[@markymarknj]

Thanks for another interesting video!

[@ericdulyon4601]

Excellent video

[@josephiousbrosif]

That was extremely interesting!

[@rolandhicks1874]

Love thes3 interview discusions

[@reggiebanks7627]

This was awesome

[@blakerh]

Very interesting! 🏁

[@mikekadlcak1963]

cool stuff... didn't know that the oval car has a solid axel! :)

[@aluaikaa8453]

Great video

[@donaldmoser212]

Excellent interview guys! In addition to the dampers, camber angles and toe ins, can't you also change your gear ratios?

[@NicoSpyro]

Hyper interessant!!!

[@artherfoxache9758]

Interesting vid Ty

[@EricBurns1]

12:45 "It's a circle like this" *draws oval* In Spongebob voice: "That was an oval! It has to be a circle!"

[@MattLitkeRacing]

I always like the technical side even if we can’t get your secrets

[@lknanml]

Is it possible to take your favorite (or not so favorite depending on how you want to drive) engineer in a 2 seat indy car to try and bridge the gap between what you feel and what you say to your engineer? Back in the day I joined the National Guard and found myself in a 2 seater Indycar going around the Long Beach Grand Prix as Dan Wheldon was representing the National Guard. RIP. (Awesome guy) While nowhere near race speeds it did really open my eyes to how fast cars can go and how they react. Random fun fact. I lived just off Ocean for a LONG while so I was involved with LBGP every year even if I didn't want to be LOL. Having been on sport bikes since 1993 it wasn't the speed or the Gs in a turn that caught me by surprise. It was the brakes. Holy crap those brakes. Couldn't stop any faster even if you hit a tree. So brakes and suspension were the eye openers for me. Trying to explain what's going on to another person is clearly a challenge.

[@torocars9227]

Tintin setup for Sebass when he drove for Coyne ? He had some awesome race pace in those couple of years.

[@Hydrosized]

Please interview Rahal. I hope he says sorry and you two make friends!

[@mosca3289]

Cheers

[@dee3368]

Romain is definitely becoming a KZbin 🌟....he should start a late night show... most of them are absolutely awful in the u.s...

[@jreyesvega]

I hope the indy car visit Monterrey next year, the track now is in remolation. There are a lot of fans here. The senior in indycar already know the track. I woul like to take the picture with you and my family here in monterrey.

[@MarcavsMarca]

Interesante

[@christophercastor6666]

Two French guys chat and introduce the world to Indycar!

[@___-ht6js]

He’s got my dream job 😭

[@chunlohk]

I love his jersey, where can I buy it 😂

[@kyrie6910]

I'm actually trying to be an engineer myself in Indycar...just about to start trade school. Any advice?

[@d00dEEE]

Does this interview give the best description of oval setup ever? I think so...

[@eshwargoolcharan9344]

Imagine if he does one with Guenther Steiner

[@AdavidPT]

what does DAG stands for?

[@andrewrorke2532]

Data Acquisition Geek

[@Bobbarker23455]

Can we get Romain in a SRX race please

[@fallenscsl]

aww no talk about push to pass button 😭

[@Dking863]

I've watched you race since your beginning in formula 1.. I also raced cars for six years winning two hundred trophies.. formula one is all about money! But indycar is all about racing.. in my opinion, I would rather fight it out racing 🚗 that are even! Indy car racing is far more enjoyable to watch because it's a brutal race to win... formula one is all about money, and who takes the lead in the first lap.. I don't think Lewis Hamilton is great.. I think money got him the championship 🤔... place him in indycars with the same chassis and engine and let's see what happens! Personally, I think your having fun racing cars again.. you didn't look happy in formula one! Plus, there's just something about having cars all around you and your just racing for that next corner.. that's what I loved about racing! Your in the soup and it's a battle for first place.. that's racing 🏁! Formula one is just money racing around the track.. Fernando Alonso is a great driver but he's stuck in a poor team.. I would hate that! 😒

[@abiolanicholson4023]

can you react to your f1 crashes

[@LargeFry1]

Gross Jeans is in Indy now? huh.

[@Muzik1080]

is he playing fifa 🧐

[@felicianodelpriore4739]

FS

[@harryjohnson2]

Is this the guy that chose to run slicks in the rain at Indy a few weeks ago?

[@aluaikaa8453]

That day was a tricky day. A few cars chose to stay on slicks, including Oward. Plus drivers have input too. It was a great decision, until it started to rain harder.

[@briangoodner8680]

The STATEGIST in conjunction with the driver make the call, not the engineer. Nobody would purposely choose slicks if they knew it was about to rain so your question seems unnecessarily sarcastic.

[@harryjohnson2]

@@briangoodner8680 Apparently 'somebody/they' purposely chose slick or it would have had rain tires like 90% of the field. I simply asked if it was this fellas decision.

[@jackhammer111]

As a longtime fan of yours, I'm very disappointed you didn't do a video about your Indianapolis 500 race.

[@ihatemybosses]

Is he happy you have not driven straight into the wall warming up your tires. You know, like you did in F1. The series you washed out of.