Pigot impresses despite stall in pits

The final standings will say Spencer Pigot had a solid run in Saturday's IndyCar Grand Prix because he started 16th and finished ninth. But it could have been sooooo much better.

After passing Alex Rossi and Juan Montoya, Pigot had charged all the way to sixth place by the first round of pit stops on Lap 22. Then all that hard work went out of the window as his Fuzzy's Vodka Chevy stalled trying to leave the pit box. He rejoined the race in 13th place and spent the rest of the afternoon playing catch-up.

"It was there," said owner Ed Carpenter after congratulating his full-time road racer on a good job. "I think a top 5 was there and Spencer has had some good runs this year, we just haven't got the results to show it."

Pigot wasn't sure why his clutch didn't engage.

"I don't know, I went full throttle and released the clutch and it stalled," he said. "Those things happen so you've just got to put your head down and stay after it."

The 2015 Indy Lights champion managed to carve his way back to ninth by the checkered flag but could only imagine how much higher up he would have finished.

"The car was really good , especially through Turns 7-13, and I was right with Ryan (Hunter-Reay, who finished third) so I think hopefully we certainly a good shot at the top 5," said Pigot, who has likely passed more cars than anyone this season. "This track produces some good racing and I had fun racing with people and we were strong."

Matt Barnes, the veteran engineer for Carpenter who works with Pigot on the street and road shows, likes what he's seeing from the 23-year-old.

"Spencer has run better than his results have shown," said Barnes. "He passed a bunch of people at St. Pete before the brake problem and he was going to finish fifth at Barber before spinning while trying to lap a lapped car. But he's taken a big step from last year and you have to remember that Josef (Newgarden) took a few years to settle in and this kid only has a dozen starts (14 now), so I'm encouraged."

Then Carpenter (pictured, left, with Pigot) shook Pigot's hand and said: "Good job, I'll talk to you in Detroit."

Pigot, who is driving for Ricardo Juncos in the Indianapolis 500, smiled as his owner walked away.

"You're not going to give the kid any pointers this week?" Carpenter was asked.

"Hell no, he's on another team," he replied with a smile. "But I'll be nice to him on the track."