Schumacher Coming To Grips with Road America
Photo: Matt Fraver/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
Given his experience at the grandest and most storied road circuits in the world during his junior racing career as well as his time in Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship, one might think that NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Mick Schumacher would feel more comfortable at Elkhart Lake’s Road America than, say, the tight, egg-shaped 1.25-mile oval of World Wide Technology Raceway.
“Honestly, I felt pretty comfortable in St. Louis,” Schumacher said during a break in testing last week at the 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course located in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine. “Okay, yeah, this is more probably like something that I know from back at home. Walls are a bit closer still than what I know from Europe, but nonetheless, it's a great track. It's a great layout. I love tracks that are brought into the land and kind of shape with the land, instead of, you know, some some flat track around. So no, it's great to be here.”
As he took his first laps at the track dubbed as “America’s National Park of Speed”, the 27-year-old son of seven-time Formula 1 World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher didn’t think Road America’s defining corners such as the Carousel or The Kink reminded him of any tracks where he’s had a lot of experience.
“No, it's a very unique track,” Schumacher offered. “I mean, I think it would be unfair to take too much comparison to other tracks, because every track is unique and very special. So is this one, and it's great to experience it and also understand the quirks of it.”
The driver of the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda said one portion of the track did catch his attention.
“I guess the undulation, like how much goes up and down, you know, it's beautiful driving through the woods down on the back straight, going to Canada Corner, I think it's called, so you know it's a very nice scenery to race here”
While Road America can boast of being one of the best road circuits in the world, Schumacher admits he hadn’t heard much about it before coming to the states this season to try his hand at INDYCAR.
“I think it's probably just because I was more focused on what I was doing over there. But yeah, now that I'm here, and I've heard a lot, and also a lot about the history of the city and stuff, and what has happened there. It's pretty nice. So, great to be here and learn about it.”
Photo: James Black/Penske Entertainment
Schumacher can certainly learn a lot about Road America from his RLL teammates.
Graham Rahal has been at Road America seemingly forever, first watching his father and partial team owner, Bobby Rahal, race, as well as his own days racing in Formula Atlantic, CART’s ChampCar World Series and now the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
His other teammate, Louis Foster, recently went through what Schumacher will be experiencing at this weekend’s XPEL Grand Prix, winning the pole for the race one year ago.
“For sure, of course, we have two very experienced drivers now,” Schumacher agreed, “and you know last year team's performance was great here, so you know lots to feed off and lots to understand from what last year brought, and you know this year obviously tires bit different, but nonetheless I think they'll be pretty good.”
Given that Road America is the longest lap on the schedule in terms of distance, Schumacher noted it was important to make the best out of each lap on the circuit.
“Yeah, you try and first of all understand where it goes right and left. I think that's a good start. But the curves obviously all very different, very special, you know, very different grips around. Some are more bumpy, some others are actually pretty smooth to drive.
“So yeah, just gotta understand it, and that comes with experience, and with laps, so that's what we're trying to do, is just get get out there and and experience those things. Also with new tire runs, long runs. The long runs are usually the places where we feel like we get the most out of it, just because, you do a lot of laps, you feel a lot of different feelings, and you see the tire behave very differently.
“Obviously, a stint is very short here, compared to some of the tracks we've been to so far this year. So, you know, we have to make the most out of every lap we do, just because tires don't last, and fuel doesn't last either.”
Currently 25th in the championship standings, Schumacher’s season has certainly been a learning experience. That’s why he’s grateful to have some laps at Road America prior to this weekend. It’s a luxury that he hasn’t enjoyed at many other stops on the schedule.
“Luckily we're here testing,” Schumacher said, “but you know, most tracks that are coming up I've never seen before, so, great that I will get to see some of them during testing opportunities. Most of them it's pretty new, so yeah, just gotta, you know, build up on it. I think this year overall is just gonna be about understanding the tracks, understanding what it's necessary to be faster, and then hopefully I put everything together when time comes.”
There is, however, one aspect of Road America that is quite familiar to the Swiss-born German. Asked whether he preferred bratwurst or cheese curds, Schumacher was quick to answer.
“Well, I mean, bratwurst is pretty much the known for me, right?”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute.