Romain Grosjean has largely healed from the burns that seared the occasions of Nov. 29, 2020 into his flesh. Tightness is felt when he clenches his left hand, the remnants of scars and a pores and skin graft. They’re everlasting reminders of the day he grew to become “The Phoenix.”

Because the three-year anniversary of his life-altering crash on the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix approaches, Grosjean has powered by means of the bodily harm and reconciled the emotional trauma from the fireplace that almost introduced his finish.

Now 37, he has reimagined himself as an IndyCar driver after greater than a decade spent with groups of various competence in Components One. Having traded Europe for southern Florida, the place he lives along with his spouse and younger household, Grosjean’s whirlwind profession reveals no indicators of stopping because the Swiss-born Frenchman has stacked three IndyCar seasons collectively and grow to be firmly entrenched in North American racing following a 12-year run in F1.

He has additionally reached an important level in his second open-wheel act. The 2024 season will both cement his place within the IndyCar paddock or usher him towards a 3rd act in sports activities vehicles.

Grosjean drove for 3 F1 groups from between 2009 and 2020, and he is already matched that quantity in IndyCar as he strikes to the midfield Juncos Hollinger Racing outfit. After beginning with Dale Coyne Racing in 2021 and spending two tumultuous seasons with Andretti International, Grosjean has skilled some unwelcome parallels from the latter phases of his grand prix days when strained relationships and rare success led to main modifications of surroundings.

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Like his signing with Gene Haas’s startup F1 program in 2016, agreeing to steer JHR — which has accomplished 52 IndyCar races to Grosjean’s 47 — has the look of a backward transfer, however Grosjean is unbothered by the optics.

“I got here in 2021 and clearly that was a really particular season for numerous causes,” Grosjean advised ESPN. “After which, you understand, becoming a member of Andretti, attempting to go for the championship … whereas we did not obtain that, we gave it a go. We did not get there, so now I am attempting one thing a bit totally different with Juncos.”

His time with Andretti will probably be remembered extra for its toxicity and unfulfilled potential than the 2 pole positions and three podiums he earned with the workforce.

By the top of the 2023 season, Andretti and Grosjean weren’t talking, which led to a messy divorce and the hiring of 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson from Chip Ganassi Racing to backfill Grosjean’s place for 2024. In sort, Grosjean’s attorneys have been pursuing Andretti by means of arbitration for monies he believes he is owed for future companies that had been allegedly agreed upon however by no means ratified in a totally signed and executed contract.

Grosjean’s new Juncos Hollinger dwelling can be coming off of an unnerving season by which it parted with its lead driver, Callum Ilott, who suffered by means of a number of social media assaults from followers of his teammate Agustin Canapino once they felt the Briton was at fault for on-track skirmishes between the 2.

Duly unsupported by the workforce in these assaults, Ilott’s relationship with Juncos soured, resulting in a break up initiated by Juncos with the driving force who delivered the workforce’s greatest end — fifth on the season finale at Laguna Seca — to onboard Grosjean.

It is a unusual union, little question. Fairly than run in reverse instructions, two of essentially the most flamable characters in IndyCar have joined forces and are totally conscious they’re able to changing into one another’s flame and gas.

That is why this experiment simply may work.

Each Grosjean and Juncos are readily conscious of their fiery inclinations, and in the event that they need to restore their reputations and prolong their aggressive runways, the upcoming IndyCar season will probably be a yearlong demonstration of calm and interpersonal concord.

“The way in which it ended [with Andretti], it isn’t perfect, however I need to concentrate on racing and driving for Juncos and attending to a workforce that is excited to have me and looking out ahead to working with me,” Grosjean stated. “And I advised Juncos, ‘I am not excellent. I am somebody that you want to handle like a racehorse. You possibly can all the time decelerate a racehorse, however you’ll be able to by no means make a donkey quicker. I say, strap your self in. However in the event you get the proper aspect of me, we’re on for a very good experience.'”

Grosjean is blindingly quick. Juncos Hollinger produces good vehicles. The potential exists for large issues to occur right here, however provided that ego and emotion are saved in verify.

“I feel I am within the ‘starting center’ of my IndyCar profession,” Grosjean stated. “I am not that younger anymore, however I feel you’ll be able to see with Juncos that my expertise is essential. I am hoping that we are able to begin getting the momentum going right here like I had again in 2021 and begin browsing a optimistic wave.”

There will probably be many observers, from followers of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” to IndyCar diehards, becoming a member of The Phoenix in hoping for a similar — and, in flip, a spot within the sequence in 2025 and past.