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New Penske driver Pagenaud keen to reverse IndyCar fortunes at IMS

Simon Pagenaud is optimistic that next weekend's IndyCar race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course will be a turning point for his fledgling career with Team Penske

The Frenchman has shown strong pace since arriving from Schmidt Peterson Motorsport over the off-season, although he has struggled to convert that speed into results and currently sits ninth in the championship.

Pagenaud says that the tricky start is a natural by-product of trying to get a new group of people to gel, and hopes that the IMS road course - where he won last year - will offer his crew a chance to deliver on their potential.

"Unfortunately the results don't really show the performance," he said.

"But that's the growing pain of a new team. On the #22 side, we have new people, people that have not worked together that now are working together.

"So there's a need for transitioning; a need to understand how to optimise everybody and get the best out of everybody at each race.

"So far, I think I'm pretty satisfied with the performance. We just need to execute fully.

"I feel like going into Indy Grand Prix, where we won last year, is a really good opportunity for us to maybe unlock what has been going on for us."

Pagenaud's best result since joining the four-car Penske line-up came at Long Beach last month, where he finished fourth after harrying team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya through the final stint.

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