Penske's IndyCar champion Pagenaud wants to try NASCAR on an oval
Reigning IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud says he would like to try NASCAR on an oval rather than a road course if his Penske team allowed him
The Frenchman visited last weekend's Martinsville NASCAR event as a guest of Penske, which fields frontrunning cars in America's top level single-seater and stock car championships.
"I'm open to any kind of racing," said Pagenaud. "I'm pretty open-minded as a driver.
"I've raced sportscars, IndyCar, rally cars in Europe, different sizes, different engines, different tyres.
"It's interesting for a driver to taste all these different things.
"Everybody asks me if I would like to drive [NASCAR] on a road course, but I would actually enjoy it more to try it on an oval.
"You would have to re-learn a lot of things, the drafting is very different.
"The way you position your car, as well as the way you deal with your tyres, seems to be quite different.
"It's like playing hockey or playing football, it's a very different job.
"It's a different sport but I would really enjoy it."
Pagenaud highlighted short ovals, such as Martinsville and Bristol, as tracks he is fascinated by when it comes to stock car racing.
"Here [Martinsville] and Bristol are always interesting for me to watch," he added.
"There is so much traffic in the race, it's definitely about muscle to make your way around.
"What's really interesting is how the drivers know which lane to pick and how to race other people.
"Some drivers are very smart finding their way through traffic, it makes you think while you are watching the race."
Pagenaud, who added he has raced against NASCAR drivers on the iRacing online simulator, said he sees no reason to rush fulfilling his ambition of trying it in the real world.
"At this point I'm very focused on IndyCar," he said.
"I want to get more championships and especially the Indy 500, that's my main goal.
"NASCAR, though, is a huge sport and the cars are very interesting."
Jimmie Johnson books NASCAR title shot with Martinsville win
Carl Edwards wins rain-delayed NASCAR Texas race to seal title shot
Archive: When NASCAR's original crossover star tried Indy 500 double duty
Archive: When NASCAR's original crossover star tried Indy 500 double duty Archive: When NASCAR's original crossover star tried Indy 500 double duty
The full inside story of Senna's Indycar test
The full inside story of Senna's Indycar test The full inside story of Senna's Indycar test
The Indy 500 engine they had to outlaw
The Indy 500 engine they had to outlaw The Indy 500 engine they had to outlaw
IMSA Indianapolis: Tandy pounces on Nasr error to lead Porsche 1-2
IMSA Indianapolis: Tandy pounces on Nasr error to lead Porsche 1-2 IMSA Indianapolis: Tandy pounces on Nasr error to lead Porsche 1-2
Will chaotic IndyCar finales become the norm in future?
Will chaotic IndyCar finales become the norm in future? Will chaotic IndyCar finales become the norm in future?
Why Penske remains ambitious for its WEC learning year
Why Penske remains ambitious for its WEC learning year Why Penske remains ambitious for its WEC learning year
BTCC Silverstone: Hill takes dominant win in the wet
BTCC Silverstone: Hill takes dominant win in the wet BTCC Silverstone: Hill takes dominant win in the wet
Alpine: Gasly/Ocon late switch in F1 Japanese GP right thing to do
Alpine: Gasly/Ocon late switch in F1 Japanese GP right thing to do Alpine: Gasly/Ocon late switch in F1 Japanese GP right thing to do
MotoGP Indian GP: Bezzecchi dominates as Bagnaia crash blows title fight open
MotoGP Indian GP: Bezzecchi dominates as Bagnaia crash blows title fight open MotoGP Indian GP: Bezzecchi dominates as Bagnaia crash blows title fight open
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of its Next Gen arrival
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of its Next Gen arrival How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of its Next Gen arrival
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022 How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.