Grosjean caught in heated exchange: 'I was going to say I want to punch you'

IndyCar is gearing up for the 110th edition of the iconic Indianapolis 500, set to take place on May 24 at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Last weekend, the Sonsio Grand Prix was held at the same venue, but on the road course, two weeks ahead of one of the most anticipated races of the year.

A moment caught on camera involving the former Haas driver, who has competed in America’s top open-wheel series since 2021, aside from last season. In the footage, Grosjean appeared ready to confront Armstrong aggressively before being quickly restrained by several members of the Meyer Shank Racing team, who managed to calm the situation before it escalated further.

The video, shared on X by reporter Marshall Pruett, shows the French driver shouting “Get off!” after being restrained by Jimmy Looper, Armstrong’s crew chief at Meyer Shank Racing, who stepped in alongside several mechanics to calm the situation.

“I was going to talk to him. I was going to say I want to punch you,” Grosjean later admitted, although the exact reason behind his anger towards Armstrong remains unclear. After placing his hands behind his back as if to show he had no intention of making the confrontation physical, the former Haas driver was eventually allowed to speak with Armstrong, with the pair ultimately having a more civil exchange.

Armstrong later commented on the heated incident while speaking to Fox: “He fancied a bit of a fist fight, actually. Bit of UFC, bit of MMA. Something I’m not accustomed to. But hey, you know what? I’ve got like a 350-pound fueler who was right behind me, so fair play to Romain. He’s got some balls for trying to attack me with him behind me.”

Animal rights organisations have criticised Grosjean following an incident during Indianapolis 500 testing in which the French driver accidentally struck and killed a bird at high speed. The impact occurred while Grosjean was travelling at around 370 km/h, with the former F1 driver later describing the aftermath inside the cockpit. According to him, blood and remains from the bird ended up across parts of the car, including the aeroscreen and roll hoop, while the smell also lingered inside both his helmet and cockpit after the session.

The comments, however, drew backlash from animal rights groups, with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticising the way Grosjean reacted publicly to the incident. Mimi Bekhechi, senior vice-president of PETA UK and Europe, argued that the driver appeared more focused on the mess left on his equipment and car than on the death of the animal itself. Bekhechi also stressed that birds are sentient creatures capable of experiencing pain and fear, suggesting Grosjean’s remarks lacked empathy towards the animal killed.