Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Just who is Felix Rosenqvist?
The 34-year-old Swede has a variety of racing experiences, but the most enjoyable one came Sunday when he won the Indianapolis 500 by the narrowest margin in race history.
He won with a Morgan Wallen paint job on his No. 60 car. His car often has musical bands on it because former SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer is a co-owner of the Meyer Shank Racing team. He also became a new father on May 4 when his daughter, Stella, was born, the first child for Rosenqvist and his wife, Emille.
The winner showing off his Indy 500 jewelry.
But what makes him tick? And why is he so relatable?
About three hours after his Indianapolis 500 win, he sat down with me to help us understand.
Bob Pockrass: Who is Felix Rosenqvist?
Rosenqvist: A father and an Indy 500 winner from Sweden that has fought extremely hard for this moment for eight years [in INDYCAR].
How would your spouse describe you?
Good query. She’d in all probability say that I am the kindest particular person ever.
She wouldn’t be the one one who says that. Lots of people say that. Does this imply that good guys can end first?
I feel so. It is a win for the great guys at present.
Why are you so good like this? Typically good is not greatest in racing?
It is in all probability been my largest enemy, certainly one of my largest enemies in my profession. Nevertheless it’s additionally in all probability a purpose why I’ve a profession as nicely. So, I’ve all the time type of seen it as you’re who you’re, cannot actually change it. I am snug being who I’m, and as you noticed at present, I am not going to race [rough] — loads of these guys from my buddies. I raced them onerous wheel to wheel. You’re who you’re.
Was fellow INDYCAR driver Pato O’Ward the most effective man at your marriage ceremony?
He was, yeah.
So is he your closest buddy?
I’ve clearly my like core buddy group from Sweden, however I have never lived in Sweden since I used to be 25 and I am [close to] 35 now, so it is 10 years. However we nonetheless keep actually tight, and Pato is certainly my greatest buddy right here in my kind of second chapter of my life in america.
Fellow INDYCAR driver Pato O’Ward is certainly one of Felix Rosenqvist’s closest pals.
He is a pleasant man too, or what’s it about Pato?
I simply love Pato. He is simply very straight-up. He’s a no bulls**** man, which I prefer to encompass myself with — no bull**** individuals. He simply tells you the way it’s, and he is very open, and we have had loads of enjoyable. Having him as a teammate was a blast. I positively miss these days.
What number of Morgan Wallen songs are you aware?
Whiskey Glasses. I feel that is going to go on repeat tonight.
How lots of the bands in your automotive are you aware and what number of do you need to go to iTunes and hear?
I’d say 85 p.c I do know fairly nicely as a result of I feel the staff tries to line me up with musicians that I actually like. Having Creed, and Ozzy [Osbourne] that type of style. Creed was nice. We had them right here final yr, they usually have been right here for the entire month. That they had introduced their households. I’ve all the time cherished Creed. It was truly one of many first songs I’ve downloaded. My sister confirmed it to me once I was like 10. After which to fulfill these guys, they usually’re as chill as you, like we simply sat like this, speaking about amps and journeys to Sweden and stuff like that. It’s fairly the enjoyment to have the ability to signify all these artists with SiriusXM, and I really feel like we simply preserve knocking out of the park with all these companions. The followers adore it. They all the time come as much as me. It’s very sensible advertising.
The Creed scheme is certainly one of Felix Rosenqvist’s favorites.
So what’s extra tense being within the hospital room for childbirth, or going into the ultimate lap of the Indy 500 in fourth as you probably did Sunday?
Imagine it or not, however being within the hospital. You’ll be able to’t describe that feeling. It’s simply one thing to have such an excessive emotional response two occasions in the identical month with fully totally different feelings. As a result of when you will have a baby, you are clearly crying since you’re completely satisfied, and now you are additionally unhappy as a result of this little factor like wants you to outlive. And you like your spouse 10 occasions extra now as a result of it is simply a lot love and feelings. After which this is rather like a badass manly like we did it type of emotion. It’s onerous to explain.
Are you able to inform me the way you picked the title Stella?
It was truly the one title. We downloaded an app, and we went by possibly 100 names, and Stella, we each have been like, “Oh, that is cool.” After which we had dinner with some pals. We requested her daughter what we must always title the child, or the kid, no matter you name it, and he or she stated “Stella. And we’re like, Okay, cool, and we have been just about after that, that is it, So we type of knew it for months that we’ll title her Stella.
Felix Rosenqvist and spouse, Emille, just lately grew to become dad and mom to daughter Stella. (by way of Rosenqvist’s Instagram)
Your bio lists your hobbies as snowboarding, skateboarding, and climbing. Which one will you miss probably the most now that you need to maintain a child?
Unsure who put climbing on there, nevertheless it’s positively not certainly one of my hobbies. Snowboarding, I used to compete in snowboarding, however I have never skied in like 10 years right here. So I do not actually have any hobbies. I simply love hanging out with my spouse — and now my daughter.
Had been you knowledgeable skier?
Not, I did not receives a commission to ski. However I used to be competing at a excessive degree till go-karting grew to become extra enjoyable.
And why was the go-karting extra enjoyable than the snowboarding?
I used to be a giant automotive man. I simply cherished vehicles. Me and my dad, all I talked about was vehicles. However snowboarding may be very related, downhill snowboarding — it is just about the identical factor with the traces and the pace and the apex and all that. The 2 of them type of merged completely collectively.
So if you happen to have been a automotive man, was racing for 2 years in System E enjoyable, or did you want the roar of the engine?
It is bizarre as a result of I actually loved driving it. I in all probability did not take pleasure in watching it as a lot. That’s in all probability one of the best ways I can describe it. I feel the noise is one thing you miss. However identical to this, it was tremendous aggressive, and while you’re a driver, you do not actually care an excessive amount of about it. You are so in your bubble, you are attempting to carry out. However there was a purpose I came visiting right here, as a result of I type of missed the adrenaline. These vehicles are means faster now.
From go-karting to INDYCAR, Felix Rosenqvist can now name himself an Indy 500 champion.
Is there something that you’ll miss doing now that you are a dad?
No, as a result of I am a homie man, and my spouse is, too. We do not occasion. We go on journeys. However you are able to do that together with your child. They all the time say you are not able to have a child, however I really feel truly we have been. We have been very prepared. This child was extraordinarily needed.
Had been you frightened earlier than the five hundred that, oh, that child’s going to come back on the day of the five hundred?
That is humorous as a result of earlier than you will have a child, you do not know what it is like. And I used to be like, if I miss it, I will nonetheless have a child, cool. Like I had no concept. After which after we bought her, and really bought to spend the 4 days there, and do all of the issues, and my spouse did a C-section, so I needed to just about be a mother for 4 days. I used to be simply so completely satisfied I bought to try this. And if now we have one other child, I can guarantee you, it isn’t going to be throughout Could.
