Um, when did you make the decision, and how hard was it to ultimately decide to, to part ways with Chip and to go on this new adventure with Zach?

Yeah, I think as you, you know, kinda pointed out there, there's been a lot of chatter, I think, for, for many weeks.

I think also with, uh, Felix's kind of, um...

I don't even know if Felix really pull it out-- put it out there, but I think it was somebody else that kind of, you know, announced that he was leaving, so then that created, uh, you know, another dynamic to it.

Um, I think in, in whole this year, where you look at maybe half the field is kind of out of contract, so, you know, there was definitely a lot of potential for people moving.

Um, I don't know.

For me, it's, it's, uh, talked about it for a, for a while.

Like that, that to me, I needed that excitement to kind of reinvigorate my career to, to get myself motivated.

Did Chip Ganassi know that? Did they suspect that?

Yeah, we had started talking kind of end of last year, um, probably September, November.

And then, you know, we, we, we...

I've really kept him, you know, in the loop of, of, you know, uh, what direction we were really looking at and where we were going, um, if we were gonna change.

And, you know, ultimately when it, you know, kind of in my mind had made the decision, you know, flew to Pittsburgh, sat down with Chip and, and, uh, the chairman of, of PNC, uh, the sponsor on the car, the PNC Bank, with, with Bill Demchak and, and sat down and [clears throat] just, you know, went through, uh, the scenario of, of not staying.

So yeah, it was, it was not easy.

Trust me, it was, it was very emotional and, and, uh, you know, not an easy decision by any means.

Does that feel a bit weird or it is what it is?

How's it landed now that we've had a few days to let it sink in?

Yeah, the process, uh, honestly has been, has been quite long.

Um, you know, I think it's, it's been several months and, and really just kind of, um, you know, thinking about how it's gonna look, you know, if, if it's the right time.

You know, I think if you back up to a certain...

You know, kind of almost six years ago, I nearly went, uh, to this team in, in 2019.

Uh, it just felt like the, uh, timing wasn't, wasn't right at that, that moment.

So, um, yeah, it's, it's been...

Does that feel a bit weird or it is what it is?

Yeah.

Uh, I think you kind of got a brief insight to that too, I think, uh, through the, the past two years where, you know, it was altered with COVID and, and, uh, you know, the, the, the one in, in 2020 where we, you know, raced with no fans.

But you know, we also had no interaction with, you know, the community out- outreach programs, um, you know, hospital visits to the charity events.

There's something pretty much every night and every day.

Uh, you know, going back to when I first started in the early 2000s at the Speedway, you know, the, the, the month of May was a lot bigger as far as the on-track stuff that you had, you know? It was almost a two or three week, uh, experience, whereas now we, we kind of start, you know, this, uh, month with, you know, the race on the road course.

Then we kind of have a week of practice leading into qualifying, and then you, you know, you kind of go into the race.

So it is more compressed.

Of course, yes

And as far as racing is concerned, what are the challenges of oval races compared to street circuits?

They're all very difficult in their own right.

I think coming from countries outside of the US, nobody else really does oval racing unless it's on dirt.

So for me, I think it's one of those things you either really enjoy or you just never really clicks with you.

And for me, from day dot, it always has my first Indy Lights, which is the junior category race, when was on an oval.

My first ever IndyCar race, when was on an oval.

My first championship actually was all ovals at that point when they'd had the split.

and what sets india apart from the other ovals on the circuit

How have you changed? What have you learned? Uh, did you learn things last year? Did you learn things in, in 20- ti- uh, race number 23 that you didn't know in race number 22?

Uh, for sure.

I think you're constantly learning.

Like, even tomorrow when we're back on track, you're gonna be learning something different.

You know, uh, I think what's really interesting about motor racing, the goals might be similar every year, but honestly, how you achieve it and how you get there are very different.

You know, even the weather conditions on Sunday could drastically change, you know, what you need to do, how you need to prep, how you need to focus and what you need to focus on strategy-wise and how the race is gonna play out.

So that's what actually for me keeps it so fresh, is that you're never chasing the same thing.

What do you attribute his unique level of success to, and how far do you think he can continue it?

Um, what's it been like to have him in the team, and, uh, are you still learning things from him, or is he basically taking all the intel that you have and, and putting it into practice? [laughs]

No, I think we, we push each other as, as hard as possible, you know.

Uh, I think, you know, they've been on an exceptional roll.

Um, you know, I think, uh, Alex is also a, a generational talent that, uh, has been, you know, pushing the envelope.

I think, you know, what's tough with him is that he's just so well-rounded, you know.

He's exceptionally good at everything.

Um, I think he's been with a team that, um, has really...

Mm

Um, what's it been like to have him in the team, and, uh, are you still learning things from him, or is he basically taking all the intel that you have and, and [laughs] putting it into practice?

No, I think we, we push each other as, as hard as possible, you know.

Uh, I think, you know, they've been on an exceptional roll.

Um, you know, I think, uh, Alex is also a, a generational talent that, uh, has been, you know, pushing the envelope.

I think, you know, what's tough with him is that he's just so well-rounded, you know.

He's exceptionally good at everything.

Um, I think he's been with a team that, um, has really...

[laughs]

I always had you down as one of the top ten guys that should have been in F1.

Yeah, the F1 thing was tricky.

Because you did some testing, didn't you? Yeah, we tested twice with Williams, and the test actually went really well.

But I think before we even got to the second test, the seat had been filled by Weber.

He was on loan.

Contractually, he came back to Williams.

So the position that was available was to be a test driver.

You have Palau come in younger, how do you approach the teammates that you have had? I think that being the elder statesman in the situation that you're in and then having a successful young teammate, how do you guys balance that as individuals?