Romain Grosjean “cried a little” after late-race defeat extends wait for maiden IndyCar win
Five laps. That was all that stood between Romain Grosjean and the end of an agonizing winless drought that dates back more than 15 years. Instead, the 40-year-old Swiss-born Frenchman watched a storybook victory slip through his fingers on the 2.19-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. Driving the #18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, Grosjean ... Keep…
Romain Grosjean stared down the final five laps of the 2026 IndyCar race at Markham, Ontario, with little more than a 3-second lead over reigning champion Alex Palou separating him from a much-needed victory. The 40-year-old French driver had been winless in IndyCar for over a decade, making this 2.19-mile temporary street circuit an especially important stage in his quest for redemption.
Grosjean edged ahead after a strategic pit stop by teammate Marcus Ericsson on Lap 69, building a sizable gap before Marcus returned to the lead. However, Grosjean's lead was short-lived. With just a few laps to go, Ericsson made a daring move, overtaking Palou and closing down Grosjean in the closing stretch. The Frenchman, running on fumes and with no more fuel or tires to spare, could do little to defend his lead.
"Nothing much you could do to defend," Grosjean admitted. "Not meant to be today... I had no more fuel, no more tires, no more anything. I just gave it all." The second-place finish marked Grosjean's best result since a second-place finish in Hungary during the 2023 GP2 Series season. His last victory came in a GP2 race in Hungary back in 2011, a long time ago in the grand scheme of things.
"I cried a little," Grosjean admitted, his disappointment palpable. "I'm not going to lie, it's a long time. It sucks. I thought today when I pulled the gap to Palou, I thought that was good." Despite the heartbreak, Grosjean remained hopeful, leaning on advice from an unexpected source for perspective.
Control what you can control. That's a lesson from Andre Agassi's book, he said, and it's a lesson Grosjean has taken to heart. "I did everything I could," he added, grateful for the support of his team and the performance he delivered. While this race may not have delivered the maiden IndyCar win he longed for, Grosjean remains optimistic about the future. He's already looking forward to the upcoming Freedom 250 race, hoping for another strong show from his team.
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