WEBVTT
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This is, is off track.
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Yes, please mute your mic,
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and if you could find a way
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to lose the unmute button, that would be helpful.
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Guys. Welcome to Off Track with hch.
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I was talking to Tim, of course. Uh, welcome to Offtrack
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with Hinch and Ro.
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Oh, no. Did somebody mute James's mic? Man?
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What a travesty. What happened?
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He just muted me because he runs the show
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and he's being childish.
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What a, what a piece of shit. Like, look at, look at
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this.
.
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He muted you.
Oh, no.
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Oh, no. in a rare instance.
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Oh my God. Tim, mute yours. .
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I already guys, I'm sorry
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that you even tuned into this episode.
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Oh, uh, anyway, it's Tuesday. We're here.
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We're here with a, a guest, a wonderful guest, uh,
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Christian Rasmussen has joined us this week.
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Christian, hello. And thanks for joining. Yeah.
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Hello. Thanks for having me. This
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Has been a, this has been a long time coming.
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I actually, uh, I thought you'd already been on the show.
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Um, and we were talking about it a couple,
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a couple events ago and mm-hmm .
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In passing. He was like, I've never been on.
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I was like, yeah, you have. And then the me, Tim,
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and James kind of thought, thought about it
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and we were like, oh, he hasn't.
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So then, um, we tried to get you on after Portland,
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but you were busy and stuff, and then Milwaukee happened.
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So we've got a lot, we've got a lot to talk about.
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It's a great, great, great time to do it.
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It was great timing, but I don't wanna start there
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because tragically, as we've just established,
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you've not been on the show before.
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And Christian, um, I imagine you don't listen to the show,
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nor should you, but, um, an alarming amount of people do.
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And we've got a very, very wide ranging
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and eclectic listener base on this show, some of whom
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got into racing because of the podcast, which makes,
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I still don't understand how that
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path happens, but it's true.
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Mm-hmm . So that means that there's some people
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that probably don't know a ton about Christian
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and how he got to where he is.
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So I wanna just go back in time a little bit,
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talk about the young kid growing up in Copenhagen
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and how you ended up, the, the thing for me
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that's always interesting is how drivers from Europe make
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the decision to come and try
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to chase the dream here in North America, which you, one
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of the guys that made that transition very early made
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that decision very early
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to kind of come the indie car route.
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So just tell us a little bit about your upbringing,
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how you got into the sport,
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and what ultimately led you
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to coming across to North America.
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Yeah. Uh, like, like you said, um, from Copenhagen,
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Denmark, um, grew up karting, uh,
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started go-karting when I was five years old.
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Did, uh, 10 years of carting.
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2015 was my last year of carting.
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Won the, the Danish Championship,
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the Northern European Championship.
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And there took the, the decision of, of going into cars,
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did, uh, formula Ford in Denmark,
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that Formula four in, in Denmark as well.
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And then after that second season in, in, uh,
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running cars in Denmark, we were kind of at a little bit
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of a crossroads, because then,
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okay, what do, what do you do?
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Do you take the European route,
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go towards F1, try and do that?
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Or, um, or, or do you figure out something else?
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Uh, for us, um, I'm out of a very normal family.
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My mom's a, a hairdresser.
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My dad owns a, a, a small car dealership.
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So we would never really have the, the money to,
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to go racing in Europe, really.
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Um, like we had some, we had a good invest
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investor partner in, in Denmark,
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so we could probably have gotten through, like
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at German F four, which was the,
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the biggest F four back back at that time,
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or Italian F four or whatever.
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But then you look a couple years down the road
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and you're like, well, what's the next step?
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Then you would go FIAF three, which that's, at
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that time it was already at like over a
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million, million euros.
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So there was no way we could go do that.
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Um, so therefore we, we started looking at other options
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where we saw the, the US as a great opportunity to, um,
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to kind of go up through the ranks without having to, to,
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to bring a full budget each year.
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So the first thing we got to was, was F four,
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because we, we saw there was a,
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a scholarship to move on to F three.
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So we thought that was great. Um, so we did a year of F four
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with, uh, j Howard driver development.
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Um, but then being, uh,
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a year in the US you quickly realized that the road
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to Indy is, is the place to be, uh, moved over, um,
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with j Howard as well, uh, to, to USF 2020 19.
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Came back in 2020, won the championship, moved on
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to Indy Pro, 2000, still with Jay, um, won
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that championship in, uh, 2021.
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Um, and then got the scholarship to move into Indy next
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with, uh, Andretti.
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Had a dreadful year, um, horrible year.
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Um, but, uh, then, um, got back into Indy next
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for 2023, won that championship
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and then, uh, got me into IndyCar. So
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You talk about, you talk about your journey over here and,
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and budget was the, the kind of the roadblock
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to continuing in Europe.
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Um, did you grow up really watching much IndyCar racing or,
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or any racing the states? Did you know much about it? Not
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At all.
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Not at all. Okay. Um, no, uh, no.
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I grew up watching Formula One with, with my dad, um,
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and I think had a very little recognition,
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recognition recollection of what IndyCar was.
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Um, you know, I think I really started to,
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to grow my appreciation for it once I, I got to the States
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and learned what it was really all about. Yeah.
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I just, I, I love that you are that kind
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of quintessential story, right?
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Of, of proof that the road to indie works,
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that when you reward success, like this is what happens.
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You, you won F 2000, you won Pro 2000, you won Indy.
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Next you get an IndyCar ride,
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and you're now an IndyCar race winner.
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I mean, this is, this is what this is all about,
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and this is why we start to see this influx
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of European drivers coming, coming over.
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But I just, I love the fact that you committed to it early
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and, and you're kind of reaping the rewards for it.
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Um, but so on that note, though, indie Next is not cheap
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and year one with Andretti, you, you were able
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to do it off the, the funding from winning the
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Pro 2000 Championship.
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What, what funding did you find?
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How did you ke stay in the car for that second year?
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Because that's the big, that's the big scare, right?
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Like, as a young driver, the kind
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of conventional wisdom is two years in a championship a year
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to kinda learn the cars and the tracks,
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and then a year to go for the championship.
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But with the way the system works, you kind of have to
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just rip off championship
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after championship to keep moving at the
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highest, most expensive level.
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You have a bad year. How'd you get back in the car?
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Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm glad you brought that up, uh,
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because that was, that was definitely not easy.
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Uh, you know, I came all the way from, from USF 2000,
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which is basically entry level, uh,
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open wheel all the way up into Indy next,
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which is the level right below IndyCar all of a sudden.
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So it's, it's obviously a big, big budget gap that needs to,
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to get the, get close there.
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Um, I have my, uh, I had my longtime investor, uh,
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back home from Denmark.
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He's given me about 200 grand a year.
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Um, and that's been his commitment since
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really the start pretty much, uh, coming to, to the us.
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Um, that's all he could, he could, he could give.
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And, and we've been very lucky with that.
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So that's, that's what we started
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with growing into Indy. Next.
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I say it's just, it's just to give people the reference.
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And Indy next budget in 2023 is 1,000,002.
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Yeah. Yeah.
Okay.
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So, so you're a million, you need,
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you need about a million bucks more.
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Yes. And so we go in with, uh, with, with our money
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and our, I mean, we know that we don we don't have enough.
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Uh, we were kind of getting to a point where we had
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to commit to it because HMD Motorsports had to
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otherwise fill up the seat, have some time to do that.
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So there was a couple deadlines, uh, over the course
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of the year that had to be met.
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Um, one of them was to, to sign, uh,
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which was the, the 200 grand.
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Then we got to, I remember,
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'cause it was around Daytona time,
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um, I was down in Florida.
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The next, uh, next timeline had to be met.
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That was the, the signing of the, the engine lease.
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Um, because otherwise you would have to, to rent engines
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for each of the races instead of the full year,
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which was way more expensive.
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Right. Um, so, uh,
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last minute we, uh, through, um,
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through also another investor that I've met on,
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on the state side, um, was committed to,
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to getting me through that next, next paycheck.
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Uh, we were down to less than 24 hours away from having
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to sign the lease before we, we got that inflection of,
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of money to, to continue racing.
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So that got me to start, uh, we got a little bit further in.
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Um, and again, we are, we're, we're outta money , you know,
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we are, we've used up everything.
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We paid everything. Um, but there's, there's nothing left.
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Um, so I think it was, I think it was around St.
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Louis, or no, I think it was mid Ohio first, um,
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where again, we got a timeline
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and you say it was a Wednesday and the Tuesday
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before we, we didn't have the money to, to do it.
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Um, and then again, exercising my,
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my relationships around, uh,
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my investors on both the US side, the Danish side,
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everyone kind of came together, uh, got me to, got me
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through that next, uh, next timeline.
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Um, also less than 24 hours away from, from, again,
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losing the ride because we couldn't afford it.
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Um, and that happened, uh, one more time.
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Um, again, through a great network of people,
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uh, we were able to, to get over the line.
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Um, but, but yeah, three times that year,
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we were less than 24 hours away from, from losing the ride
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because we, we couldn't afford it.
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Um, so a lot of, uh, a lot of sleepless nights that year.
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Um, not only trying to manage, uh, a championship,
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winning a championship, which we didn't take the charge off
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right off the bat, um, but , yeah.
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So having to, to manage that, uh, getting the money and,
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and still going out and,
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and winning a championship was, uh, was not easy.
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I, I think, I think that that deserves so much credit
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because I, everyone can relate to, you know,
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financial burdens at,
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at some point or another in their life.
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And, and the stress and,
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and the pressure that that causes just,
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it's not a fun, a fun experience.
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Right. And then also, a lot of people can relate
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to the pressure of, of performing for your job, whether
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that's, you know, a, a desk job and,
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and you have to, to meet a, a benchmark of, of criteria,
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or that's a sports job, or, or you've been on a sports team
247
00:11:02.755 --> 00:11:04.895
and, and you know, the elements that go into that.
248
00:11:04.895 --> 00:11:06.495
You combine those two things
249
00:11:07.075 --> 00:11:11.215
and still being able to deliver in the way that you did,
250
00:11:11.215 --> 00:11:12.455
knowing that this is kind of your,
251
00:11:12.485 --> 00:11:13.815
this is your last shot, right?
252
00:11:13.885 --> 00:11:16.175
Like this is, you've very much, so you've pieced all
253
00:11:16.175 --> 00:11:17.175
of these things together,
254
00:11:17.555 --> 00:11:20.095
and it's, it's within hours of it ending.
255
00:11:20.715 --> 00:11:23.775
And you know that even despite all that, you have to,
256
00:11:23.875 --> 00:11:25.375
you have to make it count because
257
00:11:25.405 --> 00:11:27.295
otherwise the, the whole thing was for nothing.
258
00:11:27.515 --> 00:11:29.415
Um, you mentioned Daytona.
259
00:11:30.135 --> 00:11:33.935
I, I want to hear about kind of, that must have been, uh,
260
00:11:34.535 --> 00:11:37.295
a big confidence boost, not only for yourself,
261
00:11:37.355 --> 00:11:38.655
but for the people supporting you.
262
00:11:38.655 --> 00:11:41.215
So if you wanna walk, um, our listeners through that and,
263
00:11:41.275 --> 00:11:44.735
and your experience in 2023 in, in Daytona. Yeah.
264
00:11:44.735 --> 00:11:48.095
2023 in Daytona was, uh, was, uh, no, it was actually,
265
00:11:49.035 --> 00:11:52.255
it was 2024 that we, that we wanted 2023.
266
00:11:52.845 --> 00:11:56.925
Okay. Um, I got our end of 2022 when I was with Andrei.
267
00:11:57.045 --> 00:11:59.165
I got signed by a motorsports
268
00:11:59.265 --> 00:12:03.445
to do the endurance cup in the LMP two class, uh,
269
00:12:03.585 --> 00:12:04.845
for, for 2023.
270
00:12:05.065 --> 00:12:08.165
So alongside doing my in the next
271
00:12:08.225 --> 00:12:13.005
and trying to afford that in 2023, what I was living off of,
272
00:12:13.345 --> 00:12:15.645
uh, paying my rent and my food
273
00:12:15.705 --> 00:12:19.205
and whatever was what I made on the, the l and p two side.
274
00:12:19.205 --> 00:12:20.565
So that actually worked out pretty good.
275
00:12:21.185 --> 00:12:24.725
Um, but, uh, yeah, so I did the, the Daytona with them,
276
00:12:24.725 --> 00:12:26.045
started the year, did the whole endurance
277
00:12:26.065 --> 00:12:27.125
rounds with, with them.
278
00:12:28.185 --> 00:12:31.445
Um, I guess they were, were, were sort of impressed with,
279
00:12:31.555 --> 00:12:35.765
with me, uh, which got me, uh, signed for Daytona that,
280
00:12:35.795 --> 00:12:38.725
that next year again with, uh, with a motorsport.
281
00:12:38.765 --> 00:12:42.205
I got bumped from being a silver driver to a gold driver,
282
00:12:42.705 --> 00:12:45.405
uh, after my, my 2023 run with them.
283
00:12:46.615 --> 00:12:48.955
Um, so obviously couldn't be in that silver,
284
00:12:49.415 --> 00:12:50.715
silver driver anymore.
285
00:12:50.775 --> 00:12:54.285
So I lost my all the other endurance rounds,
286
00:12:54.285 --> 00:12:55.365
because still they do, they tone
287
00:12:55.365 --> 00:12:56.605
as the, as the force driver.
288
00:12:56.985 --> 00:12:59.925
Um, but, uh, yeah, came in with that group,
289
00:12:59.925 --> 00:13:02.605
obviously know a lot of them very well through,
290
00:13:02.665 --> 00:13:03.845
uh, through the year before.
291
00:13:04.465 --> 00:13:08.285
Um, and went in with, uh, with Conich, uh,
292
00:13:08.675 --> 00:13:13.625
Ryan DL and, um, Dwight Merriman, uh, the Bronx.
293
00:13:14.365 --> 00:13:17.905
And, uh, and one day John. Um, it was, it was cool.
294
00:13:17.965 --> 00:13:19.745
It was also a cool way for me to do it
295
00:13:19.745 --> 00:13:22.105
because I got a ton of drive time.
296
00:13:22.405 --> 00:13:26.225
Uh, I was, uh, one of the faster drivers on the trek.
297
00:13:26.505 --> 00:13:28.745
I think I ended, uh, some
298
00:13:28.745 --> 00:13:30.105
of the listeners probably know the B pillar.
299
00:13:30.265 --> 00:13:33.505
I was the, the quickest car on the B pillar , uh, after,
300
00:13:33.805 --> 00:13:35.825
or the quickest driver on the B pillar after the race.
301
00:13:36.245 --> 00:13:39.225
Um, and got to, to finish the race out, I think I did
302
00:13:40.285 --> 00:13:43.105
six out of the last eight stints, um, .
303
00:13:43.865 --> 00:13:48.305
So I did a, a triple and then out for a double
304
00:13:48.445 --> 00:13:49.865
and then a triple again at the end.
305
00:13:50.485 --> 00:13:52.345
Um, so I got a lot of driving, got
306
00:13:52.345 --> 00:13:53.625
to really set my mark on it.
307
00:13:53.845 --> 00:13:58.625
Uh, got to, to, uh, fight a little bit with, uh,
308
00:13:58.845 --> 00:14:03.545
uh, fellow Dane, um, at the end with, uh, in Melty Jacobson,
309
00:14:04.045 --> 00:14:06.425
um, to, uh, to, to get over the finish.
310
00:14:06.525 --> 00:14:10.225
But once that last restart was done, fought him off,
311
00:14:10.285 --> 00:14:12.855
and then, uh, came over the line and,
312
00:14:12.855 --> 00:14:14.615
and got a nice little watch out of it. And
313
00:14:14.675 --> 00:14:16.655
Do you wear your watch or is it a trophy
314
00:14:16.685 --> 00:14:17.975
that sits on a shelf somewhere?
315
00:14:18.245 --> 00:14:20.935
It's actually, uh, it sits not on a shelf.
316
00:14:21.595 --> 00:14:24.015
Um, I don't wear it much.
317
00:14:24.215 --> 00:14:27.255
I wear it sometimes if we're going out to, for a nice dinner
318
00:14:27.355 --> 00:14:28.575
or something, but I've,
319
00:14:28.715 --> 00:14:30.855
you can probably count on two hands the, the,
320
00:14:30.855 --> 00:14:32.215
the amount of times that I'll worn it.
321
00:14:32.635 --> 00:14:35.975
Um, but no, it sits, uh, it sits in my closet, uh, most
322
00:14:35.975 --> 00:14:39.095
of the time and, um, lifts there.
323
00:14:43.115 --> 00:14:44.295
So that's your, that's your career.
324
00:14:44.755 --> 00:14:47.655
Um, through, through the beginning of 2024.
325
00:14:48.155 --> 00:14:52.605
Um, you start off 2024 as a Daytona 24 hour winner
326
00:14:52.635 --> 00:14:56.845
with a Rolex, uh, pretty sick, big departure from scraping
327
00:14:56.905 --> 00:14:59.525
by on a Tuesday, trying to meet a Wednesday deadline.
328
00:14:59.755 --> 00:15:03.005
Yeah. You are an IndyCar driver for Ed Carpenter racing.
329
00:15:03.385 --> 00:15:07.525
Um, not doing an at at the time when this, um,
330
00:15:08.555 --> 00:15:10.325
when you signed with the team, you weren't doing any
331
00:15:10.325 --> 00:15:11.765
of the ovals except for the 500.
332
00:15:12.385 --> 00:15:15.045
Um, which has kind of been, been very much the,
333
00:15:15.185 --> 00:15:17.645
the status quo for ECR for a lot of years.
334
00:15:17.665 --> 00:15:20.845
You know, the 21 car, um, was the full-time driver.
335
00:15:21.105 --> 00:15:23.045
And, and that had been reus for, for a while.
336
00:15:23.045 --> 00:15:25.605
And then the 20 car was split amongst usually a,
337
00:15:25.725 --> 00:15:28.965
a young driver or a driver from Europe, um,
338
00:15:29.145 --> 00:15:30.245
who would do the road and street courses,
339
00:15:30.345 --> 00:15:32.325
and then Ed, uh, would do the ovals.
340
00:15:32.945 --> 00:15:35.885
So you got the nod, um, to do that.
341
00:15:36.225 --> 00:15:40.165
You obviously showed a lot of promise in 2024.
342
00:15:40.915 --> 00:15:42.965
That car had a lot of bad luck
343
00:15:43.145 --> 00:15:46.925
and had some struggles, so you got bumped up, um,
344
00:15:47.345 --> 00:15:48.445
to do the ovals
345
00:15:48.655 --> 00:15:51.485
after what I was told was a very impressive test.
346
00:15:51.485 --> 00:15:53.845
Little did we know, but it was a very impressive
347
00:15:53.845 --> 00:15:54.885
test at Gateway.
348
00:15:55.425 --> 00:15:58.085
Um, and you actually were put in the car
349
00:15:58.265 --> 00:16:00.845
for the last two oval race, well, three oval races,
350
00:16:00.905 --> 00:16:01.965
two events of the season.
351
00:16:04.805 --> 00:16:08.545
And I just want to talk about that, um,
352
00:16:09.635 --> 00:16:12.065
experience, because I think
353
00:16:13.255 --> 00:16:17.305
what you have accomplished on ovals this year, um, is,
354
00:16:17.405 --> 00:16:18.905
is nothing short of exceptional.
355
00:16:19.085 --> 00:16:23.625
So did you know right off the bat in 2024 that that really
356
00:16:24.565 --> 00:16:28.425
fit into your comfort level, your driving style,
357
00:16:28.685 --> 00:16:29.585
and you knew you could be
358
00:16:29.585 --> 00:16:30.945
competitive? Right, right from the beginning?
359
00:16:31.345 --> 00:16:33.945
I don't, I'm, I'm always very realistic about
360
00:16:34.085 --> 00:16:35.265
my expectations.
361
00:16:35.485 --> 00:16:36.825
So going in
362
00:16:37.085 --> 00:16:41.295
and saying that I knew I was gonna be, be competitive, I,
363
00:16:41.495 --> 00:16:43.455
I wouldn't say that was the way it went.
364
00:16:44.115 --> 00:16:48.575
Uh, on the other hand, was I confident to know
365
00:16:48.575 --> 00:16:51.215
that I would do an okay job.
366
00:16:51.365 --> 00:16:52.575
Yeah, I would say that.
367
00:16:52.835 --> 00:16:55.695
Um, I, I've had pretty good runs on,
368
00:16:55.695 --> 00:16:58.135
on ovals my whole career, uh, since 2019
369
00:16:58.915 --> 00:17:01.935
and 2020 I won the, the, the Freedom 75.
370
00:17:02.295 --> 00:17:06.295
I won the Freedom 90 the year after I won both races, uh,
371
00:17:06.355 --> 00:17:09.495
or all the ovals in, in India next and in my second year.
372
00:17:09.595 --> 00:17:12.975
So I've had really good success on, on the ovals,
373
00:17:12.975 --> 00:17:14.815
had a good, had a okay.
374
00:17:14.815 --> 00:17:16.375
Decent 500 the first year.
375
00:17:17.395 --> 00:17:21.455
Um, so, so yeah, no, I was, I was confident and,
376
00:17:21.635 --> 00:17:25.895
and given the test that I had at, at St.
377
00:17:25.895 --> 00:17:28.095
Louis, I thought, yeah, this,
378
00:17:28.205 --> 00:17:29.455
this is not that much different.
379
00:17:29.455 --> 00:17:31.415
You know, I can, I can probably figure it out.
380
00:17:31.995 --> 00:17:34.455
Um, but yeah, then, uh, then, and,
381
00:17:34.475 --> 00:17:36.575
and I mean, always when you get handed the keys
382
00:17:36.575 --> 00:17:40.215
to a race car, you, you take them and run, you know?
383
00:17:40.515 --> 00:17:43.895
Um, so, and that was kind of the case, you know, ed, uh,
384
00:17:44.375 --> 00:17:47.535
I was sitting, uh, well, right, right over here, uh,
385
00:17:47.565 --> 00:17:49.325
when Ed called me one night and,
386
00:17:49.465 --> 00:17:52.805
and kind of talked through his, his thoughts and,
387
00:17:52.905 --> 00:17:56.695
and obviously we had the, the,
388
00:17:56.755 --> 00:17:58.415
the leader circle on the line.
389
00:17:58.435 --> 00:17:59.535
We were right on the brink
390
00:17:59.545 --> 00:18:03.655
after a, a very unlucky season, also part of, of a season
391
00:18:03.665 --> 00:18:07.575
where, for me, kind of making those rookie mistakes
392
00:18:07.715 --> 00:18:10.135
and a little bit of a, a,
393
00:18:10.215 --> 00:18:12.055
a wrecking ball at times that first year.
394
00:18:12.195 --> 00:18:14.935
But, um, which is kind of part of, of,
395
00:18:14.955 --> 00:18:16.335
of our first season, I feel like.
396
00:18:16.515 --> 00:18:19.895
But, um, but yeah, so yeah, getting handed the keys to that,
397
00:18:20.115 --> 00:18:24.135
uh, having his belief in me that he thought that I would,
398
00:18:24.135 --> 00:18:25.415
could do a good job with him,
399
00:18:25.515 --> 00:18:27.855
and then going out on the other side and,
400
00:18:27.855 --> 00:18:29.295
and doing an okay job with it
401
00:18:29.435 --> 00:18:31.975
and getting the leader circle money, which was the whole
402
00:18:33.895 --> 00:18:38.305
idea of, of doing it, um, was, uh, yeah, it was good.
403
00:18:38.325 --> 00:18:39.625
It was a good way to end the year.
404
00:18:39.925 --> 00:18:44.745
Um, also a good way to, to build into, to 2025, um,
405
00:18:44.765 --> 00:18:47.025
having some experience on the ovals
406
00:18:47.025 --> 00:18:48.985
before you go out for a, a full season.
407
00:18:49.305 --> 00:18:50.545
I just, I just wanna ask quick.
408
00:18:50.665 --> 00:18:52.825
I mean, when drivers come over from Europe,
409
00:18:53.245 --> 00:18:54.665
the ovals is always the big question.
410
00:18:54.845 --> 00:18:57.065
And I wonder if, because you came over so early,
411
00:18:57.575 --> 00:19:00.105
that was kind of the big advantage compared to say, a,
412
00:19:00.925 --> 00:19:02.345
you know, a Luard baby
413
00:19:02.725 --> 00:19:05.545
or, you know, a Rose request who didn't come over
414
00:19:05.595 --> 00:19:06.785
until much higher levels.
415
00:19:07.225 --> 00:19:08.665
'cause I mean, you took to them.
416
00:19:08.805 --> 00:19:11.025
So naturally, those, those races at the end
417
00:19:11.025 --> 00:19:13.185
of last year were incredibly impressive.
418
00:19:13.725 --> 00:19:15.745
And then you go into ovals this year.
419
00:19:15.925 --> 00:19:17.145
Let me, uh, you know,
420
00:19:17.145 --> 00:19:18.905
but I'm just gonna let the people know, remind the people
421
00:19:18.905 --> 00:19:21.305
of your finishing results on ovals so far this year.
422
00:19:21.955 --> 00:19:26.025
Sixth, third, first podium of your career at Gateway, sixth,
423
00:19:26.245 --> 00:19:31.105
eighth, first in your first full season of IndyCar in the,
424
00:19:31.165 --> 00:19:34.425
the tougher, toughest, harder part to understand kind
425
00:19:34.425 --> 00:19:36.305
of racing that has been your record.
426
00:19:36.925 --> 00:19:38.145
Um, was it,
427
00:19:38.255 --> 00:19:40.625
does it just you first time you sat a car in an oval,
428
00:19:40.925 --> 00:19:43.185
you were just super comfortable and ready to go?
429
00:19:43.285 --> 00:19:44.665
Or did you feel like there was a bit of a,
430
00:19:44.945 --> 00:19:46.705
a buildup and a learning curve there? Yeah,
431
00:19:46.745 --> 00:19:49.305
I mean, there's always a learning curve, um, for sure.
432
00:19:49.685 --> 00:19:52.785
Um, but I had, I had pretty good people around me, uh,
433
00:19:52.925 --> 00:19:56.945
at the time working with, with Jay Howard, working with, uh,
434
00:19:56.995 --> 00:19:59.985
Louis Dino, who was my, my engineer at the time.
435
00:20:00.285 --> 00:20:03.505
Um, so had really good people around you, around me,
436
00:20:03.555 --> 00:20:06.305
which I think is a, is a big part of, of,
437
00:20:06.365 --> 00:20:07.385
of getting comfortable.
438
00:20:08.005 --> 00:20:10.385
Um, and, um, and getting to learn it all.
439
00:20:10.405 --> 00:20:11.745
But then I also think, I don't know,
440
00:20:11.785 --> 00:20:14.025
I think there's something natural that I just took
441
00:20:14.025 --> 00:20:15.065
to it pretty well.
442
00:20:15.765 --> 00:20:20.165
Um, I have
443
00:20:21.125 --> 00:20:24.725
I guess, little fear , uh, when it comes
444
00:20:24.745 --> 00:20:25.965
to, to driving race cars,
445
00:20:25.965 --> 00:20:26.965
clearly
.
446
00:20:28.785 --> 00:20:31.005
So, which, uh, I, I don't know.
447
00:20:31.165 --> 00:20:34.805
I don't know if that, uh, plays a part for other drivers.
448
00:20:35.025 --> 00:20:39.975
It doesn't really for me. Um, so I guess that's part of it.
449
00:20:40.395 --> 00:20:43.655
Um, being willing to put yourself in certain situations
450
00:20:43.655 --> 00:20:45.495
that maybe other drivers wouldn't.
451
00:20:45.755 --> 00:20:49.205
Um, which I think re is getting rewarded quite
452
00:20:49.205 --> 00:20:50.365
well on, on a Noble.
453
00:20:51.035 --> 00:20:54.485
Alright, so let's, that's a, that's a perfect segue right
454
00:20:54.995 --> 00:20:57.525
into, into what happened a couple days ago.
455
00:20:57.785 --> 00:21:00.645
You know, there, James went through your,
456
00:21:00.795 --> 00:21:02.765
your record this year in terms of finishing order.
457
00:21:03.065 --> 00:21:07.325
You had your first podium in Gateway, had, you know,
458
00:21:07.455 --> 00:21:08.885
qualifying gone a bit better.
459
00:21:09.305 --> 00:21:11.285
And I think you still had some problems in
460
00:21:11.285 --> 00:21:13.165
that race in Pit Lane, like I think you caught on fire
461
00:21:13.185 --> 00:21:16.005
and there was some, some various things like Gateway very
462
00:21:16.005 --> 00:21:17.645
much could have been a win as well.
463
00:21:18.325 --> 00:21:20.525
Hmm. Um, but that was kind of, I think everyone's first
464
00:21:21.515 --> 00:21:24.365
glimpse of, of what you're capable of,
465
00:21:24.365 --> 00:21:25.725
especially on a short oval, right?
466
00:21:25.725 --> 00:21:28.125
Like, obviously everyone saw it at Indianapolis,
467
00:21:28.125 --> 00:21:29.245
but it's, it's a completely different
468
00:21:29.405 --> 00:21:30.485
approach and, and driving style.
469
00:21:30.905 --> 00:21:32.205
So Gateway happened.
470
00:21:32.315 --> 00:21:35.485
Iowa is a little bit difficult to say just
471
00:21:35.645 --> 00:21:37.725
'cause it's, it's so difficult to, to race there,
472
00:21:37.785 --> 00:21:39.685
as the listeners on this podcast are very aware of.
473
00:21:39.705 --> 00:21:44.365
So then we go to Milwaukee where last year was a, was a,
474
00:21:44.365 --> 00:21:46.525
was a big struggle, um, for the organization.
475
00:21:46.665 --> 00:21:49.525
Um, obviously I, I can, I can talk to that knowing,
476
00:21:49.595 --> 00:21:51.165
sitting right next to you and,
477
00:21:51.165 --> 00:21:52.965
and knowing all of the things that you guys went
478
00:21:52.965 --> 00:21:54.045
through in 2024.
479
00:21:55.025 --> 00:21:57.085
So coming back in, in 2025,
480
00:21:57.155 --> 00:21:59.085
obviously the cars in, in a better place.
481
00:21:59.385 --> 00:22:03.685
Um, you qualified like 16 spots higher than you did the
482
00:22:03.845 --> 00:22:05.205
previous year, starting ninth.
483
00:22:06.225 --> 00:22:10.245
And what you did throughout the race was good,
484
00:22:11.065 --> 00:22:13.245
but it wasn't until the last restart
485
00:22:13.255 --> 00:22:15.605
where you really set yourself apart from
486
00:22:15.605 --> 00:22:16.805
every single other car.
487
00:22:17.305 --> 00:22:20.715
And I just want the listeners
488
00:22:20.775 --> 00:22:23.835
to hear about your mentality, because I can talk
489
00:22:23.895 --> 00:22:25.515
and I will talk on the Thursday episode.
490
00:22:25.655 --> 00:22:27.315
The broadcast has talked a lot about it.
491
00:22:27.315 --> 00:22:28.555
The media's talked a lot about it.
492
00:22:29.375 --> 00:22:32.955
The, the level of confidence that you had to, to kind
493
00:22:32.955 --> 00:22:35.995
of put the car in a window, that is really a
494
00:22:37.335 --> 00:22:39.435
not a guarantee that you're gonna come out the other side.
495
00:22:39.855 --> 00:22:40.875
Um, just
496
00:22:40.875 --> 00:22:42.875
because there was, there was a lot
497
00:22:42.875 --> 00:22:43.995
of risk that was being taken.
498
00:22:44.215 --> 00:22:48.555
But for you, that doesn't seem like it's the, the same level
499
00:22:48.575 --> 00:22:51.115
of risk that maybe some other drivers
500
00:22:51.365 --> 00:22:52.435
would associate with that.
501
00:22:52.535 --> 00:22:54.355
So walk us through those last 20 laps.
502
00:22:54.655 --> 00:22:59.395
You had fresh tires, there was two cars in front of you, um,
503
00:22:59.395 --> 00:23:00.475
that also had new tires,
504
00:23:00.575 --> 00:23:02.755
but then three cars in front of you who were unused,
505
00:23:03.095 --> 00:23:04.275
did you think at that restart?
506
00:23:04.375 --> 00:23:05.875
All right, this is my race to win.
507
00:23:06.065 --> 00:23:08.555
I've got, I've got it and I'm just gonna go do it. No,
508
00:23:08.915 --> 00:23:09.915
I didn't.
509
00:23:09.915 --> 00:23:12.315
I, uh, I again come with, uh,
510
00:23:13.075 --> 00:23:16.035
I think a very realistic approach to two things and,
511
00:23:16.215 --> 00:23:17.875
and kind of take it one step at a time.
512
00:23:18.615 --> 00:23:22.555
Um, not only ha did we have all the cars in the lead lab in
513
00:23:22.555 --> 00:23:24.435
front of us on, on that restart,
514
00:23:24.435 --> 00:23:27.555
but we also had a, a, a couple of cars that were let down.
515
00:23:27.975 --> 00:23:30.035
Um, so that, I think I, I don't know exactly,
516
00:23:30.035 --> 00:23:34.075
but I think I was 11th or 12th in line, um, of, of cars.
517
00:23:34.665 --> 00:23:36.755
Yeah. And it, it, it really started earlier than that,
518
00:23:37.055 --> 00:23:38.075
uh, before the race.
519
00:23:38.575 --> 00:23:40.035
Uh, Woody, my engineer and,
520
00:23:40.055 --> 00:23:42.915
and Pete, no, Woody, my strategist Pete, my engineer,
521
00:23:42.935 --> 00:23:44.195
we were talking about that.
522
00:23:44.855 --> 00:23:49.445
If this very specific scenario at the end happens
523
00:23:49.875 --> 00:23:52.245
with a late race caution, um,
524
00:23:52.545 --> 00:23:55.005
and we have an opportunity to go in and,
525
00:23:55.065 --> 00:23:57.445
and get new tires, we should take it.
526
00:23:57.745 --> 00:24:01.845
We were even talking about how big of a delta
527
00:24:02.515 --> 00:24:06.245
advantage you needed on tires for it to, to be worth it.
528
00:24:07.025 --> 00:24:10.875
It just happened to be perfectly
529
00:24:11.885 --> 00:24:14.395
timed and perfectly right on that delta
530
00:24:14.545 --> 00:24:15.755
that we were talking about.
531
00:24:16.415 --> 00:24:17.595
Um, and, um,
532
00:24:17.975 --> 00:24:21.745
and then we took it, got out on new tires, uh,
533
00:24:23.175 --> 00:24:24.905
from the, the couple stints
534
00:24:24.965 --> 00:24:28.545
before I knew I was pretty good even compared
535
00:24:28.545 --> 00:24:30.225
to other cars on new tires.
536
00:24:31.165 --> 00:24:34.345
Um, being able to, to, to run the high line and,
537
00:24:34.345 --> 00:24:38.105
and being able to pass people, uh, even other fast cars, um,
538
00:24:38.715 --> 00:24:40.945
which was obviously an a, an advantage.
539
00:24:41.405 --> 00:24:44.585
Um, so I knew I was sitting decent there for, for
540
00:24:44.585 --> 00:24:45.705
that last stint.
541
00:24:45.905 --> 00:24:47.705
I also knew that I was seventh in line
542
00:24:47.805 --> 00:24:50.665
and being able to pass that many cars, including
543
00:24:51.645 --> 00:24:52.905
not only pass that many cars,
544
00:24:52.925 --> 00:24:56.985
but also pass the, the front runners of that race, uh, was,
545
00:24:57.085 --> 00:25:00.925
was not gonna be easy, but took it a little bit at the time,
546
00:25:01.425 --> 00:25:02.885
um, passed.
547
00:25:03.445 --> 00:25:05.485
I think LGA was the first one.
548
00:25:06.105 --> 00:25:09.925
Uh, then Pato, he came back on me and then I got him back.
549
00:25:09.945 --> 00:25:12.005
So we had a a, a pretty good battle there.
550
00:25:12.465 --> 00:25:16.765
Couple overlaps, uh, got by, uh, got by you
551
00:25:17.585 --> 00:25:22.085
got by Lin Joseph, um, Joseph as well. Yeah.
552
00:25:22.305 --> 00:25:23.445
And then at that point, Paolo
553
00:25:23.445 --> 00:25:24.605
had a little bit of an advantage.
554
00:25:24.635 --> 00:25:26.205
Like he had a, he had a couple second leave.
555
00:25:26.345 --> 00:25:27.765
You had to close down two second down two and a half.
556
00:25:27.875 --> 00:25:29.125
Yeah. Yeah. Um,
557
00:25:29.225 --> 00:25:31.565
and then, you know, all, all of a sudden I was,
558
00:25:31.685 --> 00:25:32.965
I was sitting in second
559
00:25:32.965 --> 00:25:34.405
and I was like, huh, that's a pretty,
560
00:25:35.385 --> 00:25:36.925
pretty good day already.
561
00:25:37.265 --> 00:25:39.725
Um, and uh, yeah, that's just, uh,
562
00:25:39.725 --> 00:25:42.325
obviously had the tire advantage was, was chasing him down.
563
00:25:42.425 --> 00:25:44.925
Had had good, had really good pace compared to him.
564
00:25:44.985 --> 00:25:46.285
But I also didn't know,
565
00:25:46.995 --> 00:25:50.925
because we all know Alex, he takes very well care
566
00:25:50.925 --> 00:25:53.725
of his tires, uh, something there.
567
00:25:54.105 --> 00:25:57.845
So you don't really know how long of a, how long
568
00:25:57.845 --> 00:25:59.445
that tire bandage is gonna last for.
569
00:26:00.065 --> 00:26:03.125
Um, so I just thought I would get up to him and,
570
00:26:03.185 --> 00:26:05.365
and see, see what I had when I got there.
571
00:26:06.465 --> 00:26:09.925
Um, but also knew that if I did did get there,
572
00:26:09.965 --> 00:26:12.365
I probably need to get it done quick before that.
573
00:26:12.795 --> 00:26:15.365
Most of that tired bandage is, is gone.
574
00:26:16.105 --> 00:26:20.005
Um, got out to him, did the same move that I had done
575
00:26:20.725 --> 00:26:21.885
previous running the Highline.
576
00:26:22.185 --> 00:26:25.645
Uh, ran the high line out of turn two, got a good run.
577
00:26:25.985 --> 00:26:29.205
He went to defend the inside into three, rolled the outside
578
00:26:29.835 --> 00:26:31.125
side by side through three
579
00:26:31.125 --> 00:26:35.405
and four, um, with a little, uh, little L tab at the,
580
00:26:35.465 --> 00:26:36.485
at the exit of four.
581
00:26:37.065 --> 00:26:38.485
Uh, and then, um,
582
00:26:39.705 --> 00:26:42.605
and then rolled a lot of speed into turn one,
583
00:26:42.825 --> 00:26:43.925
uh, to clear him.
584
00:26:44.145 --> 00:26:45.805
And then, um, and then off we went.
585
00:26:46.185 --> 00:26:49.245
So one, congratulations. Yeah.
586
00:26:49.435 --> 00:26:52.525
Alex, you had a little love tap with Joseph there too. Yeah.
587
00:26:52.625 --> 00:26:53.625
And we'll
Talk about it.
588
00:26:53.795 --> 00:26:57.005
Dude, I later, I was, yeah, I, I was more worried about,
589
00:26:57.445 --> 00:26:59.605
I forget who it was, some lap car you were going
590
00:26:59.605 --> 00:27:02.525
around on the exit of two was like four to go.
591
00:27:02.525 --> 00:27:05.045
Yeah. And I'm like, oh my God, you put a lot
592
00:27:05.045 --> 00:27:06.445
of faith in other people right
593
00:27:06.445 --> 00:27:07.445
now.
.
594
00:27:07.445 --> 00:27:10.325
Yeah. So, so the thing is, like, again, talking about
595
00:27:10.325 --> 00:27:11.565
that tire range, I didn't know
596
00:27:11.565 --> 00:27:12.765
how long that was gonna last for.
597
00:27:13.025 --> 00:27:16.525
Uh, I didn't feel safe with having Alex below
598
00:27:16.985 --> 00:27:18.365
as the car behind me.
599
00:27:18.595 --> 00:27:19.805
Totally fair. Um,
600
00:27:20.545 --> 00:27:24.085
and I passed one car, which I think he followed as well.
601
00:27:24.105 --> 00:27:25.325
So he was still behind me.
602
00:27:25.585 --> 00:27:27.885
So I thought, okay, well then I gotta pass another one, .
603
00:27:28.525 --> 00:27:29.605
Um, which I did.
604
00:27:30.185 --> 00:27:33.565
And then I think that was Rosenquist, uh, got by him.
605
00:27:33.785 --> 00:27:36.125
And then I was like, well, one car, is
606
00:27:36.125 --> 00:27:37.445
that really enough to feel safe?
607
00:27:38.705 --> 00:27:39.965
No, , it's not.
608
00:27:41.645 --> 00:27:44.165
I think everybody, everybody in the broadcast became
609
00:27:44.195 --> 00:27:45.245
Wheeler at that point.
610
00:27:45.275 --> 00:27:46.765
Your spotter just like, Hey, you know,
611
00:27:46.765 --> 00:27:47.765
you could take it a little easier.
612
00:27:47.765 --> 00:27:49.605
Yeah, you could .
Oh,
613
00:27:49.825 --> 00:27:53.285
and I think, I think most of that came from, I knew, I,
614
00:27:53.325 --> 00:27:56.885
I saw how quickly Alex got by that first car as well.
615
00:27:57.345 --> 00:27:58.965
So there was no guarantee
616
00:27:58.965 --> 00:28:00.565
that he wasn't just gonna do the same thing.
617
00:28:00.745 --> 00:28:04.165
So I got past one more car, which was Louie
618
00:28:04.965 --> 00:28:06.335
that put two cars behind,
619
00:28:06.955 --> 00:28:10.055
or between us, uh, I could see he wasn't really moving up.
620
00:28:10.055 --> 00:28:11.855
And then once I got up to Stingray, I thought
621
00:28:12.085 --> 00:28:15.015
that we're pretty, we're sitting pretty good here with four,
622
00:28:15.405 --> 00:28:17.095
four lefts to go or whatever it was.
623
00:28:17.195 --> 00:28:18.935
And yeah. Yeah, roll it to the finish.
624
00:28:19.305 --> 00:28:20.815
Great drive, man. Great drive.
625
00:28:20.855 --> 00:28:22.695
I know, I, I know your time is limited
626
00:28:22.695 --> 00:28:25.095
because you're going on a lot of other podcasts today.
627
00:28:25.755 --> 00:28:27.015
And one of my favorite things,
628
00:28:27.415 --> 00:28:29.215
'cause I, uh, I texted James about this even
629
00:28:29.215 --> 00:28:30.695
during the race, the winner
630
00:28:30.695 --> 00:28:33.655
of the races goes on Speed Street with Connor Daley.
631
00:28:33.835 --> 00:28:37.455
And, uh, we love Connor here. Big front, front of the show.
632
00:28:37.735 --> 00:28:39.055
Probably our most, uh,
633
00:28:39.465 --> 00:28:40.775
Often frequent guests. Guests,
634
00:28:40.775 --> 00:28:41.775
Yeah.
635
00:28:41.775 --> 00:28:42.535
Frequent guests. That's the word I was looking for.
636
00:28:42.635 --> 00:28:43.855
Do you want to go into that?
637
00:28:43.935 --> 00:28:45.215
I mean, are, are there gonna be any
638
00:28:45.455 --> 00:28:46.695
fireworks with you talking to Connor?
639
00:28:46.975 --> 00:28:48.015
'cause obviously you guys, uh,
640
00:28:48.075 --> 00:28:49.895
got into it a little bit in Portland. Yeah,
641
00:28:50.095 --> 00:28:51.095
I don't, I don't know.
642
00:28:51.095 --> 00:28:52.055
I don't think there's much to go into.
643
00:28:52.515 --> 00:28:56.035
Uh, we had, we had our thing at Portland.
644
00:28:57.375 --> 00:29:01.345
To me that's, that's a long time ago already.
645
00:29:02.005 --> 00:29:05.585
Um, we obviously didn't agree on the matter.
646
00:29:06.325 --> 00:29:10.985
Um, we talked things through, we met, it was very civil, uh,
647
00:29:11.045 --> 00:29:13.185
talked things through and yeah.
648
00:29:13.245 --> 00:29:15.385
But you left. Still not agreeing on the matter.
649
00:29:16.195 --> 00:29:17.625
Still not agreeing on the matter.
650
00:29:17.765 --> 00:29:21.065
And I think we probably never will , um,
651
00:29:21.195 --> 00:29:22.505
which is, which is fine.
652
00:29:22.725 --> 00:29:24.145
Uh, that's, that's part of racing.
653
00:29:24.285 --> 00:29:27.065
You always, you as a driver always think you are. Right.
654
00:29:27.445 --> 00:29:30.665
Uh, and I, that's talking for the both of us,
655
00:29:30.805 --> 00:29:32.025
so, so I get that.
656
00:29:32.445 --> 00:29:35.885
Um, but no, I'm, I'm sure it'll be fine.
657
00:29:35.935 --> 00:29:37.605
We're, we will meet, we'll talk,
658
00:29:38.305 --> 00:29:39.645
if it'll come up, it'll come up.
659
00:29:39.805 --> 00:29:42.005
I doubt it will, but I guess we'll see.
660
00:29:42.945 --> 00:29:46.325
I'm, I'll be listening. I, I, I had the, I had the,
661
00:29:46.525 --> 00:29:48.805
I had Connor, he was starting right in front of me,
662
00:29:48.805 --> 00:29:52.005
so I had him right behind me at, um, at the driver's intros,
663
00:29:52.825 --> 00:29:56.085
turned around, gave him knuckles, asked about his foot.
664
00:29:56.825 --> 00:29:58.565
We were all good. So yeah,
665
00:29:58.625 --> 00:30:01.965
Listen, it's, um, it was a big topic conversation.
666
00:30:02.305 --> 00:30:05.045
Um, a lot of opinions float around on the internet
667
00:30:05.045 --> 00:30:07.165
after that, that there was, the best thing
668
00:30:07.165 --> 00:30:10.165
that any anyone can do in that situation is go out
669
00:30:10.185 --> 00:30:12.325
and beat everyone the next race, um,
670
00:30:12.335 --> 00:30:14.285
doing the exact same thing that you were doing in Portland.
671
00:30:14.385 --> 00:30:15.485
And, and that's your style,
672
00:30:15.485 --> 00:30:17.685
and that's what you've become known for.
673
00:30:17.985 --> 00:30:20.845
So everyone I think is, is blown away.
674
00:30:20.865 --> 00:30:21.925
So keep doing what you're doing
675
00:30:22.145 --> 00:30:24.845
and, uh, we'll see you this weekend.
676
00:30:26.595 --> 00:30:28.485
This has been off track with Hinch and Rossi.
677
00:30:28.705 --> 00:30:31.805
Off Track is part of the Sirius XM Sports Podcast Network.
678
00:30:32.225 --> 00:30:33.285
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679
00:30:33.285 --> 00:30:35.525
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680
00:30:35.525 --> 00:30:36.725
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681
00:30:37.325 --> 00:30:39.525
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00:30:39.705 --> 00:30:42.485
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683
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684
00:30:45.365 --> 00:30:46.685
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685
00:30:46.945 --> 00:30:48.405
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686
00:30:48.405 --> 00:30:50.045
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687
00:30:50.355 --> 00:30:52.645
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688
00:30:53.315 --> 00:30:55.365
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689
00:30:55.425 --> 00:30:56.605
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690
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