Mick Schumacher takes part in qualifying on an oval for the first time and amazes the IndyCar Series. The competition reacts impressed – and praises the former Formula 1 driver highly.
After his disappointing IndyCar debut with a retirement in the first race, Mick Schumacher made his first mark in the American racing series at the second stop.
In qualifying for the second race of the season in Phoenix, the driver of the Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan team (RLL) raced to fourth place on the grid. Particularly impressive: It was Schumacher’s first time chasing times on an oval circuit.
After qualifying, the competition took off their hats to the German. “I thought he was incredibly good,” said Penske driver Josef Newgarden, who starts the 250-lap race in second place behind teammate David Malukas. “The guy is new to oval racing, he did a great job.”
Schumacher’s RLL stablemate Graham Rahal said the former F1 driver had done a “first-class job”. Schumacher’s fourth place “is really a big step for all of us, because we knew that short oval courses were our Achilles heel,” said the son of team co-owner Bobby Rahal.
Mick Schumacher raves about “great experience”
A week ago, Mick Schumacher had a failed debut in the IndyCar Series in St. Petersburg. The former Formula 1 driver was eliminated on the first lap through no fault of his own after a rear-end collision.
“It’s great to have had this experience,” said the 26-year-old after his outstanding qualification. “We really got some good laps together here.” He is “excited” about the race in the state of Arizona.
Mick Schumacher drove in Formula 1 for the US team Haas in the 2021/22 seasons. He later worked as a reserve driver for Mercedes and always hoped to return to the starting grid – in vain. In the last two years, Schumacher drove in the WEC endurance series.
