“Ayrton Senna has been the inspiration for my entire life, whether I’m in a race car or not,” the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver said at Indy. “He was my hero as a child, my role model as a teenager and my example as a human and a race-car driver”

“Senna inspired people throughout the entire world, and his legacy lives on through the Ayrton Senna Institute, which was established by his sister, Viviane,” Pagenaud said.

“I’m truly honored that Viviane and her son  Bruno Senna have allowed me to be part of this special opportunity to commemorate Ayrton’s memory at the Indianapolis 500. I’m so excited to have this opportunity to thank Ayrton for what he has taught me up to this day and what he will continue to teach me in the future”