IndyCar really gets social media and so do its drivers. Also, the levels of camaraderie and friendship between the drivers is on a whole different level to that of F1.
Take Penske teammates, Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden. Pagenaud won the 2016 championship, Newgarden the 2017 title, and are likely to be part of the title fight again this year. But instead of their rivalry taking the form of superficial compliments and subtle jabs about wiping the smile off of each other’s faces, they do ridiculous things. Like having an autograph war.
It all started when Pagenaud had a jab at Newgarden’s merchandise:
Having a little fun picking on @josefnewgarden today at @INDairport! 🤴🏼#IndyCar @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/SUzb7roFqH
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) March 26, 2018
Understandably riled by this, Newgarden retaliated… by signing everything.
Head over to the @IMS store at @INDairport… I’m signing everything. pic.twitter.com/iCgrKyFLq6
— Josef Newgarden (@josefnewgarden) March 26, 2018
Yep everything. Newgarden called on Pagenaud to respond – the IndyCar autograph battle had started.
Your move @simonpagenaud.#INDYCAR | #TeamJN pic.twitter.com/L7ZB0o8beu
— Josef Newgarden (@josefnewgarden) March 26, 2018
Pagenaud’s next move was to sign a showcar:
Hey @josefnewgarden – it’s cute that you signed someone’s T-shirt at the gift shop in @INDairport. I sign real race cars 🏎 😂 #INDYCARautographbattle #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/pcUUuMc5Lp
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) March 26, 2018
Now there aren’t too many showcars at Indianapolis airport, so Newgarden couldn’t one-up his teammate by signing all of the showcars. Instead he signed the same car… just bigger.
Super cute signature, @simonpagenaud… but you gotta go big bro. #INDYCAR | #TeamJN | #INDYCARAutographBattle pic.twitter.com/wMZLVc3WEb
— Josef Newgarden (@josefnewgarden) March 26, 2018
Then things got personal. Pagenaud got some time alone with Newgarden’s race gear, so signed his visor.
.@josefnewgarden, you had me bring your suit and helmet to Indy, and then didn’t ask for it back when we got home to CLT?! #IndyCarAutographBattle continues then, sir! 🤴🏼#TakeBackThe1 #IndyCar @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/geHySKvSAi
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) March 27, 2018
If there’s one thing you don’t do it’s touch another man’s helmet without permission, so Newgarden upped the ante – and then some.
Simon, Simon, Simon… you gotta think bigger than that, bro. You have now been signed! Your move @simonpagenaud.#DEFENDTHE1 | #TeamJN |@Team_Penske #INDYCARAutographBattle pic.twitter.com/aUBERhZg2G
— Josef Newgarden (@josefnewgarden) March 27, 2018
Pagenaud has yet to respond, leaving Newgarden as the winner. But wait, what’s this? A new contender enters in the form of James Hinchcliffe!
.@Hinchtown just went there.
The #INDYCARAutograph battle continues at @INDairport 🤣✈️#INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/mLrwLILCBl
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) March 28, 2018
This thing just got blown wide open. Between teammates it’s obviously just a bit of (probably staged) promotion and awareness for the series (though obviously still funny), but Hinchcliffe drives for a completely different team! Where will this end? Who will win? Who knows, but Hinch has a hunch who the loser will be:
I see your signing of the show car, @josefnewgarden @simonpagenaud, and raise you the store sign!! The real loser here is @INDairport who will now have Drivers graffiti all over the place! #IndyCarAutographBattle https://t.co/AS0luvFXRK
— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) March 28, 2018
I dunno, a whole airport covered in the signatures of racing drivers sounds pretty good to me!
