Back in 2002, Michael Schumacher was already a motorsport legend, having clinched four Formula 1 World Championships and well on his way to securing his fifth title. At the time, Schumacher was driving for Ferrari, and his dominance on the track had made him one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, even surpassing the legendary Ayrton Senna in some key statistical categories.
That same year, Schumacher made an appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes, where he was asked about the prospect of racing in IndyCar. Schumacher’s response was direct—he saw IndyCar as a level below Formula 1 and had no interest in switching over. He explained that, in his view, the risks involved in IndyCar were simply too high, and he didn’t see the appeal of putting himself in such a dangerous situation.
Schumacher explained that one of his primary concerns with IndyCar was the speed at which the cars race so close to the walls. He believed that, while Formula 1 has its own set of risks, the dangers in IndyCar were more severe due to the proximity of the cars to the walls at such high speeds. He highlighted how, in the event of a crash, a driver could suffer severe injuries or worse. In his own words, Schumacher said:
“First of all, it’s a step down from Formula 1, and second, it’s too dangerous. The speed you do, that close to the walls—if you have an accident, there’s no way a chassis can survive certain kinds of crashes. That means your legs could be heavily damaged, or even worse, and I don’t see any point in that.”
Schumacher’s remarks made it clear that he had no intention of ever competing in the IndyCar series. He had already proved himself at the highest level of motorsport—Formula 1—and saw no reason to take unnecessary risks in a different series, especially one he considered less prestigious.
The discussion then turned to drivers who make the switch between Formula 1 and IndyCar. Schumacher’s opinion was that drivers who couldn’t succeed in F1 often tried their luck in IndyCar. On the flip side, some IndyCar drivers had successfully transitioned to Formula 1, but Schumacher didn’t feel the need to make such a switch himself. He believed that the true challenge was in Formula 1, and having conquered that, he didn’t see any value in taking on IndyCar.
“I have nothing to prove there, I don’t see a challenge in it. Because usually, the people who cannot survive in Formula 1, they go to Indy. People who are coming from Indy partly survive in Formula 1,” Schumacher remarked during the interview.
This mindset was characteristic of Schumacher’s approach to his career. From the moment he entered Formula 1 in 1992 with the Benetton team, he was laser-focused on achieving success in that arena. Over the course of his career, he won seven World Championships, notched 91 race victories, and stood on the podium an incredible 155 times. For Schumacher, Formula 1 was the pinnacle of motorsport, and he never seriously considered stepping down to other series like IndyCar, NASCAR, or even rally racing.
Schumacher’s career trajectory was in stark contrast to that of his younger brother, Ralf Schumacher, who also raced in Formula 1 but didn’t enjoy the same level of success. After leaving F1 in 2007, Ralf ventured into the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), a German touring car series, where he competed for five years before retiring from racing altogether. Unlike his brother, Michael never felt the need to explore other racing disciplines, as his legacy in Formula 1 was more than enough.
Looking back, Schumacher’s comments about IndyCar reflect his belief that Formula 1 was the ultimate test for any driver. For him, stepping down to another series wasn’t just a risk—it was unnecessary. He had already conquered the most challenging and prestigious motorsport in the world, and there was nothing left for him to prove. His career, marked by record-breaking achievements and an unmatched competitive spirit, solidified his status as one of the greatest drivers of all time.
In essence, Michael Schumacher’s take on IndyCar was a reflection of his unyielding commitment to excellence and safety. He wasn’t willing to take what he saw as a backward step, especially when it came with heightened risks. His laser focus on Formula 1, along with his refusal to settle for anything less than the best, is what set him apart from many of his peers and continues to define his legacy in the world of motorsport.
