Why Grosjean won't do Indy 500: "I hold my breath when I see something like that"

Too great a risk

Everyone remembers the images of Grosjean's crash in Bahrain and it would be easy to imagine Grosjean leaving motorsport for good. So the Frenchman will continue to race, but with some conditions. "There are two circuits where I will not race this year," he told Motorsport.com. "That is Texas [where two races are held] and the Indianapolis 500."

Although he would love to have the Indy 500 on his record, he feels the risks are too great. "We've seen some mega crashes there. I'm not saying drivers get hurt there, but they drive side by side at speeds over 330 kilometres per hour. So it is a risky operation. For me, that's something I think differently now after the incident in Bahrain."

Been through enough

The main reason for ignoring Texas and the Indy 500 is the fact that he has children. "I have three children and they thought for two minutes and 45 seconds in Bahrain that they wouldn't have a father anymore. If I was younger, I would accept it and I would have no trouble getting in. But as a father I can't do that to my family again, those crashes at Indy are terrible. Usually drivers come out unscathed, but I hold my breath when I see something like that. I think my children have been through enough already, I don't want to put them through that again."

Not stopping racing

There was also the option to leave motor racing completely. "I asked myself that question during the winter and I quickly came to the conclusion that I want to race. I told my wife: 'This is probably not what you want to hear, but I really want to race again'. She could have told me not to, but she supports me. The children are supportive as well. They want me to be happy and to be who I am. I have to race, I've done that all my life."