Romain Grosjean to honor late Kyle Busch with special Indy 500 tribute

Romain Grosjean will run the Indy 500 in a moving tribute to the late Kyle Busch, piloting car #18 in the distinctive font made iconic during Busch's championship-winning tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died Thursday at 41 after severe pneumonia progressed to sepsis, a day after falling unconscious during a simulator session.

Why it matters:

Kyle Busch was NASCAR's winningest driver across national series competition with 234 victories, and his sudden death reverberated throughout the motorsport world. Grosjean's tribute bridges the gap between IndyCar and NASCAR, honoring a stock-car legend whose 63 Cup wins and 2015 and 2019 championships cemented his place in history.

The details:

• Busch became critically ill Wednesday while testing in a simulator, coughing up blood and growing unresponsive before the infection turned fatal.
• The #18 became inseparable from Busch during his years at Joe Gibbs Racing, where he drove the familiar M&Ms Toyota Camry to dozens of victories.
• Fox Sports analyst Townsend Bell proposed Grosjean carry the #18 in the exact font Busch ran at JGR, ensuring the visual tribute resonated with NASCAR fans.
• After Busch moved to Richard Childress Racing and the #8 in 2023, RCR retired the number and switched to #33, pledging to reinstate #8 only if Busch's son Brexton reaches the series.

What's next:

Grosjean's #18 will carry Busch's legacy onto the Indianapolis grid, offering the racing world a collective moment to mourn and celebrate one of its most prolific champions. As the green flag drops, the sight of Busch's iconic number on an IndyCar will stand as a powerful reminder of the bonds that connect motorsport disciplines.