Scott McLaughlin says he and Romain Grosjean have moved on from the clash which scuppered any chance of either driver winning the IndyCar season-opener.
The pair came together on the streets of St Petersburg in February, colliding after McLaughlin made a mistake in the braking zone.
On cold tyres and fresh out of the pit lane, the Team Penske driver locked up and slammed into the side of his Andretti Autosport rival who had sought to go around the outside.
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Grosjean was left buried in the tyre barrier and fuming while McLaughlin carried on, albeit with damage. A penalty meant he had to tour the pit lane before finishing 13th.
Three races on, it’s water under the bridge.
The pair once again found themselves locked together in battle for victory at the latest round of the series at Barber Motorsport Park, where McLaughlin ultimately prevailed.
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He admitted the incident at St Petersburg did cross his mind when he made the pivotal pass that secured him the race win in Alabama.
“I thought if I hit him this time, it would be bad,” McLaughlin laughed.
“Racing him like we normally do, very clean. I knew it was going to be hard passing him. It was a matter of me biding my time.
“I asked the guys, ‘Where are we at on fuel?’ Had a bit more than him. Allowed me to pressure him a bit more, use a bit more to overtake, whatever. I had a lot more overtake up my sleeve.
“Ultimately that’s what helped me pass him. I think the way I got the run up into turn eight was purely by push to pass. I was able to save that. Once we got out in front, it was just a matter of managing it till the end.”
Looking back on the incident, McLaughlin said he has learned from his mistake – though that didn’t change his approach to the pass.
“Just play your cards as you get dealt, take risks where you need to,” he explained.
“You’ve got to learn from your mistakes obviously. We both had our opinions on the incident from St. Pete. We’re over it now. For me, I think for him as well, it was just press on.
“I think we showed it’s no big thing affair. It’s just hard racing. We’ll race each other to every bit of the track, use each other up when we need to.
“That’s just part of it and that’s why I enjoy racing Romain.”
The pair did have a slight coming together late in the race.
Before the defining pass of the race, Grosjean had put himself into the lead with a move around the outside at the penultimate corner.
“We kissed each other a touch,” Grosjean said with a wry smile.
McLaughlin added, “I think we touched when he passed me a little bit, but it was fair game.
“It was awesome racing, man. It was exactly what IndyCar was. Yeah, ain’t no procession here, that’s for sure. It was a lot of fun.”
For Grosjean, the events of the past are firmly behind him.
The eight-time Formula 1 podium finisher said there is no bad blood between he and McLaughlin and the incident hasn’t changed how he races the Kiwi.
“I know with Scott, a few guys out there that I’m really not worried about racing,” said Grosjean.
“Scott made a mistake in St. Pete. I know he doesn’t race that way. It was all clean.
“It’s quite funny. He reminded me on the podium that last year I got him at the same spot.
“Next year I probably won’t get him there if he’s in front.”
The IndyCar Series continues on May 14 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
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