Pagenaud looks forward to Grand Prix of Boston

Simon Pagenaud

Simon Pagenaud had his first encounter with a pair of Boston sporting venues over the weekend – the track layout for the upcoming Grand Prix of Boston powered by LogMeIn and a Boston Bruins NHL game at TD Garden. The Team Penske driver was impressed with both.

The inaugural Grand Prix of Boston weekend is scheduled for the streets of the city's Seaport District along the South Boston Waterfront on Sept. 2-4, INDYCAR's first venture into Beantown and the penultimate event on the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series calendar.

Racing will take place on a 2.25-mile temporary street course around the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The circuit, which Pagenaud drove in a passenger car Jan. 16, includes a tunnel under a portion of the convention center, which has Pagenaud particularly excited.

"The underground aspect is very unique," Pagenaud said. "I mainly look forward to hearing the sound of the car as I drive under it. The layout is very fun and the track itself is in a fast-growing area with a great dynamic. I should be able to get good speed because the wide track, fast corners and smooth roads after all of the work (is completed) will most likely make this track one of the fastest tracks there is.

"The Verizon IndyCar Series is very excited for the potential that Boston brings as a whole," he added. "It is exciting to be able to reach out to another population in a great area and hopefully see its economy change for the better as a result of the race. I would really like to thank the city of Boston for this opportunity."

Pagenaud was also looking forward to seeing his first Bruins game that evening against another long-time NHL team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I'm very technical in my approach of any sport," he told an NESN reporter before the game. "I'm looking forward to seeing the reflexes of the players, how fast the game is, the tactic behind it and, obviously, artistically it's pretty cool to watch."

Pagenaud made a visit Jan. 17 to the New England Auto Show, where he met fans, tested out a racing simulator and found his way into a beautiful new Chevrolet Corvette.

Race weekend in Boston will include both the Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition. For more on the event, including how to sign up for ticket information, visit Indycarboston.com.