Tempers flared and then cooled at The Milwaukee Mile, where the Mick Schumacher Grosjean clash spun the German out of contention before the two former Formula 1 team-mates settled it face to face on pit road.
Schumacher, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, was pitched into a spin after contact with Romain Grosjean’s Dale Coyne Racing machine at the exit of Turn 4 during the second race of IndyCar’s penultimate weekend. He was still wearing his helmet when he marched to Grosjean’s cockpit afterwards, a brief “sorry” the only audible word before he walked away shaking his head.
His initial verdict was blunt. “That contact was insane. I have never seen anybody chop across like that before in my life,” Schumacher told Frontstretch Open Wheel, adding pointedly that Grosjean “has had experience with that in the past, and you would actually think that someone would learn from it”. On an oval, he said, “I don’t think that is quite racing.”
The second conversation went rather better. As reported by Motorsport.com, the pair spoke again once emotions had settled, ending in a handshake and a hug, with Grosjean explaining he had been trying to thread between Schumacher and RLL team-mate Louis Foster. “He is really good on ovals!” the Frenchman offered by way of praise.
What the Mick Schumacher Grosjean clash costs in the rookie race
Schumacher recovered to finish 12th, but the damage is in the rookie standings: he trails Dennis Hauger by 18 points with only the Laguna Seca finale remaining. With Alex Palou’s fifth title already sealed, Rookie of the Year is the last prize left on the table — and Milwaukee may have decided it.
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