Despite losing his F1 seat after the 2020 season, Kevin Magnussen is quite active in motor sport. Although he didn’t move to IndyCar like his former Haas teammate Romain Grosjean, the Danish driver got his chance in the iconic competition this weekend.
While his debut excited him, it didn’t end quite like he hoped it would.
Magnussen’s IndyCar debut ends in disaster
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Magnussen made his F1 debut with McLaren in the 2014 season. In the season-opening Australian Grand Prix that year, he took his first and only F1 podium to date. Although he broke records with his P2 finish, the Dane couldn’t impress much in his seven seasons long career in F1.
After Haas released him at the end of the 2020 season, Magnussen joined Chip Ganassi Racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for 2021.
However, an injury to McLaren Arrows’ Felix Rosenqvist opened the door for K-Mag to make his IndyCar debut in the Rev Group Grand Prix.
Although he qualified P21 at the Road America circuit, he put in several good laps during the race yesterday. However, an engine failure in Lap 35 brought an abrupt end to his one-off experience in the USA. The Dane could be heard saying, “Oh, engine died. Engine’s dead.”
Pato O’Ward, who also races for the Arrows, finished P9.
Kevin Magnussen's IndyCar debut will not end the way he planned.
Listen to the in-car radio to hear what happened. TV: NBCSN pic.twitter.com/7wpM2Ytk15
— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) June 20, 2021
Despite a premature end to his IndyCar debut, he can take some experience back with him. In addition, his former teammate Grosjean finished an impressive P5 in the race.
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What’s next for Kevin Magnussen?
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The Dane raced for midfield teams in F1 since leaving McLaren in 2016. Although he spent one season with Renault, he didn’t taste much success in his four seasons with Haas F1. In an F1 career lasting seven seasons, he garnered just 158 career points.
The 28-year-old will return to racing with Chip Ganassi Racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar championship. However, the decision on Rosenqvist racing in the next IndyCar race remains unknown.
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In addition, the Dane will race for Peugeot Sport in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship.
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