Romain Grosjean has had an impressive season with the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) team, turning heads with a record-breaking six top-10 finishes and showing solid consistency in qualifying. This season saw Grosjean push the Chevy-powered team to unprecedented heights, with eight top-12 starts and JHR’s best-ever finish—a remarkable fourth place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Yet, despite these achievements, Grosjean’s future with the team hangs by a thread.
Financial Roadblocks at JHR
In a sport where money often talks louder than talent, JHR faces an urgent need to secure funding, putting Grosjean’s seat at risk. Team owners Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger are under immense pressure to fill not just one, but two seats for the upcoming season. They’re in a scramble to attract paying drivers or substantial sponsorships, and that could leave Grosjean—an experienced, salaried driver—on the outside looking in.
“It’s all about the budget,” Grosjean admitted. “We built something good here that I’d love to continue, and they want to as well. But without sponsors, we simply can’t go racing.” The 38-year-old veteran is no stranger to uncertainty, but the stakes couldn’t be higher as he hustles to line up backing for JHR in hopes of keeping his seat for the 2025 season.
A Personal Mission for Funding
For Grosjean, finding sponsorship has become a personal mission. Tapping into relationships he’s built throughout his career, he’s been working relentlessly during the off-season to secure partners for JHR. “I think of it as kind of my duty to help them,” he said, emphasizing the mutual desire to carry forward the momentum they’ve built. But the clock is ticking, and the outcome is anything but certain.
Looking Back to Move Forward? A Reunion with Dale Coyne on the Horizon
If things fall through at JHR, Grosjean has his sights set on a possible return to Dale Coyne Racing. Ironically, Coyne and JHR are the only teams left with available seats. Grosjean, who launched his IndyCar journey with Dale Coyne Racing in 2021, has kept a close relationship with his former team owner and sees the potential for a reunion as a backup plan.
“I’ve never stopped talking with Dale,” he revealed. “I really love him as a person, and I’m not a genius, but I know there’s only two teams left on the grid with openings.” While Coyne Racing has had its share of struggles over the last couple of seasons, Grosjean believes in the potential to rebuild and create something special once more.
The Verdict: A Fight to Stay on the Grid
As Grosjean navigates the uncertain waters of IndyCar’s cutthroat world, he faces one of the biggest battles of his career—not on the track, but behind the scenes. Whether he can secure the sponsorships to keep him in the No. 77 JHR car or rekindle a partnership with Dale Coyne Racing, Grosjean’s journey in IndyCar is far from over.
With IndyCar’s intense 2025 season on the horizon, fans and critics alike are watching closely, wondering if Grosjean will overcome the odds and return to the grid. The former Formula 1 driver, known for his grit and resilience, is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to secure his future.