IndyCar: Simon Pagenaud, Gabby Chaves Get into Heated Argument

Simon Pagenaud and Gabby Chaves had a heated conversation on pit road after the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

Pagenaud confronted the Harding Racing driver because he felt that he was being held up by him. Chaves was two laps down, and the Team Penske wheelman was upset that he lost an on-track battle with Scott Dixon.

Pagenaud finished ninth while Chaves ended up 17th.

Simon Pagenaud confronts Gabby Chaves.

"Get the (expletive) out of here." pic.twitter.com/Hp0ASOJ11q

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) April 23, 2018

The 2016 series champion is usually a mild-mannered individual. But Chaves got under his skin, and Chaves didn’t want to hear it.

“We had a pretty good race going, and I think we potentially could have been a top-five [finisher],” Pagenaud said. “I was very frustrated with Gabby. He was two laps down, and I just got stuck behind him, which gave an opportunity to Dixon as I was trying everything I could to make it happen.

“At the moment, (Chaves) doesn’t have me on his side, let me tell you. But, it’s a real shame. I think the Menards No. 22 was really from where we started. The strategy to go on rain [tires] when we went on rain was a good choice, and I thought it was a really good pace. We just started from too far back.”

Chaves didn’t discuss the confrontation in his post-race comments. But he did throw shade at Pagenaud and his French nationality on social media. He posted a selfie of himself eating a croissant.

Turn the page and pumped for the best month in racing coming up #thisisMay now long drive home to Indy but a quick stop to refuel and back on the road pic.twitter.com/itPBdTU7vl

— Gabby Chaves (@GabbyChaves) April 23, 2018