Romain Grosjean and the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing team produced six visits to the top 10 this season, double the amount that JHR earned in any other season since it joined the NTT IndyCar Series in 2017.
The Swiss-born Frenchman and the No. 77 crew also made significant progress in qualifying, where the Chevy-powered entry started inside the top 12 eight times — at nearly half of the events — and delivered JHR’s best finish to date with fourth at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. And it might not be enough for him to hold onto his seat.
Despite JHR’s uptick in competitiveness, which also included Conor Daly’s late-season assistance in the No. 78 Chevy that secured a $1 million Leaders Circle contract from series owner Penske Entertainment, the Ricardo Juncos- and Brad Hollinger-owned outfit finds itself with two open seats and an overriding need to attract funding through paying drivers or any sponsorship it might procure to fill its openings.
For a paid professional like Grosjean, the team’s financial hardship has left the 38-year-old waiting to hear if JHR will take up his option or move on and sign a new lead driver.
“It’s all budget,” Grosjean told RACER. “So right now, I’ve got nothing lined up. It is what it is. I think last year was probably one of my best seasons, and I may end up not being in the grid next year, just because the marketing has been horrendous for IndyCar, the hybrid has brought the costs to a level that’s unbearable for teams, and that’s the way it is.