Simon Pagenault has been a busy person for the past year.
As a racer It was released in Maythe 2016 IndyCar Series champion and the 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner, hired by General Motors, frequently visited the Charlotte Technical Center and spent countless hours on the loop-in drive simulator.
What was not shared at the time was the full scope of Pagenaud’s contributions. The French worked with Team Chevrolet’s Indy Car Engineers to refine the chassis and engine tuning, switch back and forth in GM’s Cadillac F1 Simulator Program, and helped them develop the brand to develop a new Formula 1 Challenger for their debut in 2026. Cadillac F1 race driver Pagenaud was trapped in the project’s chassis and engine designers, racing engineers of all sorts, and sampled hundreds of virtual components and setups from DIL.
.jpg)
Pagenaud has played a central role in helping Cadillac realize its first Formula One car. Photo courtesy of Simon Pagenoo
“Optimizing the technical aspects of the car and managing the relationships with the people in the factory has been my passion ever since I first started racing,” Pagenaud said. “I really enjoy talking to engineers, developing simulators and making them as realistic as possible. This piece brings my expertise and brings something that I’ve lacked in some way since the accident.”
The 41-year-old hasn’t raced since the summer of 2023. A breakdown in the brake components left me with prolonged symptoms stemming from the effects of the brain-inflicted whipping when Meyer Shank Racing Indycar pitched into a violent barrel roll.
Pagenaud has not returned to the competition for more than two years since his crash, but spending time with the DIL simulator has proven to be therapeutic and extremely beneficial to GM. Famous for his engineering knowledge and detailed chassis and engine feedback, Pagenaud repurposed the talent he led him to the coveted development resources for the Chevrolet and Cadillac in champion cars, IndyCar and durability sports car races.
“My role and goal is to bring the simulator as close to reality as possible and set the foundation for the car,” he said. “I want to help Cadillac project itself as accurately as possible into reality.”
Graeme Lowdon, principal of the Cadillac F1 team, expressed his gratitude for everything Pagenaud brought to the program’s ramping-up process.
“Our work with Charlotte’s simulator is extremely important to building a team,” Lodon said. “This is important on so many levels. It integrates basic performance and aero setup, allowing you to race on Grand Prix weekends, and you can check the systems and protocols.
