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Rosenqvist: Tight IndyCar field is hard for rookies and veterans

The NTT IndyCar Series’ newest winner, Felix Rosenqvist, says that the extreme compression between fastest and slowest drivers on any given weekend makes success extremely tough for everyone involved, whatever their level of experience.

Felix Rosenqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

Even on IndyCar’s longest course last weekend, 4.014-mile Road America, the gap between the front rear of the 23-car grid was two seconds, while on the 2.439-mile road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the gap between first and last was 1.3sec.

Rosenqvist, who won the second Road America race from seventh on the grid, commented: “I think in IndyCar right now the concept is just so tight.

“You look at qualifying. You have the top 15 within three or four tenths [of a second]. That's the difference of making a really good lap and an exceptional lap. It's so little difference.

“You're on the right side of that, you have a good chance to win that day. If you're on the wrong side, you start 15th! Maybe you need a strategy to turn it around. There always seems to be a good strategy or two out there, it's always very open.

“The formula of the series allows anyone to fight for the win if you have the pace and if you do a good strategy. You can't really count anyone out… I think that's why you see so many different results, so many different guys up in the front all the time.

“You kind of find a flow, just do the same every week. You always have to recharge, work hard, try new things every session. Yeah, hard work being in IndyCar.”

Rosenqvist, who beat Colton Herta to last year’s Rookie of the Year honors despite not winning a race, commented on his wait for raceday glory in the Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda.

“Definitely it's hard to come in as a rookie and win races straightaway,” he said. “I think [2018 Rookie of the Year Robert] Wickens really showed that. I had a good season last year, but it was still very up and down. I had a couple of podiums, one pole position. Still every weekend was a big swing.

“I think you need experience. You need to learn the facts, you need to learn how the weekends go, try to find a flow, ups and downs. It probably takes a couple of years, too, before you can master it yourself without being guided by your crew.

“I think that's what [teammate Scott] Dixon does really well – being consistent. He takes a lot of decisions on his own in the car. He can sort of call the race a little bit inside the helmet. That's something the young guns need to learn.”

Rosenqvist said also that he was happy to score the first Indy car victory for a Swede since Kenny Brack took his ninth and final win – coincidentally, also for Ganassi – at Mexico City in 2002.

“We have a good crowd back home supporting us in IndyCar now, me and Marcus Ericsson [teammate, who finished the race in fourth]. It's growing and growing.

“With the IndyCar season having started a bit earlier than F1 this year, I think it's tipped over to IndyCar being the biggest interest in Sweden, with two Swedes – or two and a half with Oliver Askew [who is dual nationality, with a Swedish mother].

“It's fun when you can bring something home to the country. Hopefully it creates some interest for the young kids even in these tough times that we have right now. Hopefully that can make a difference for someone.”

The winning pass, Race 2 at Road America, as Rosenqvist dives inside the Arrow McLaren SP car of Pato O'Ward at Turn 5 on the penultimate lap.

The winning pass, Race 2 at Road America, as Rosenqvist dives inside the Arrow McLaren SP car of Pato O'Ward at Turn 5 on the penultimate lap.

Photo by: Peter Burke / Motorsport Images

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