Magnussen tastes IMSA success after Grosjean reunion

Sam Hall
Sunday 13 June 2021 13:45

Kevin Magnussen claimed his first pole position and victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after crossing paths with former Haas team-mate Romain Grosjean for the first time since the Bahrain Grand Prix last year.

After crashing heavily and sustaining burns to his hands on the opening lap in Bahrain, Grosjean was forced to sit out the final two races of the season.

The Frenchman currently races in the IndyCar championship in the United States and this weekend both Grosjean and Magnussen are racing at Belle Isle Park at the Detroit Grand Prix.

"It was great to see him," Magnussen told Autoweek. "The last time I saw him was in the hospital after his crash in Bahrain, so it was good to see him out there."

In a Michelin Racing USA video, the Dane how Grosjean's left felt after his November crash.

"I'm having a skin graft at the end of the year," said Grosjean.

As for restrictions of movement, he added: "No, that's lucky. I mean, a little bit here. If I take my mobile phone and I try to go to the other side of it, I can't. So that is going to go.

"It is just painful all of the time except when I drive. From where I came from, it's not too bad."

Back together again. Former @F1 @HaasF1Team teammates @KevinMagnussen and @RGrosjean reunite at @detroitgp for first time since Bahrain GP. Now in @IMSA and @IndyCar - we exclusively heard the two catch up.#IMSA/#IndyCar/#F1/#DetroitGP/@CGRsportscar/@DaleCoyneRacing pic.twitter.com/N3QVjGXXq0

— Michelin Racing USA (@MichelinRaceUSA) June 12, 2021

Magnussen victorious as Ericsson breaks IndyCar duck

After registering fifth-place finishes in each of his first three races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Magnussen finally tasted victory for the first time in the series in Saturday's race.

Competing alongside Renger van der Zande in Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac, the victory was secured by just 0.573 seconds with former F1 driver Felipe Nasr second with Pipo Derani in the 0.573 Action Express Cadillac.

The win was Magnussen's first in any category since the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season finale in Barcelona.

Also victorious was former Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson, the Swede scoring his first IndyCar win at the 36th time of asking after a late red flag, caused by a Grosjean crash, resulted in then-leader Will Power's car overheating and being unable to take the restart.