LEEDS, Ala. – Bon jour, Matey.

Through preseason development, Simon Pagenaud had grown close to his new Dallara chassis -- so much so that the Schmidt-Hamilton HP Motorsports driver has referred to the car as “Matey.” Why? Because he said it sounds like a good friend.

It’s been a positive relationship so far. Pagenaud qualified 10th for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama in the No. 77 Honda-powered entry and advanced throughout the 90-lap race to finish fifth.

“P5 today is a really good result," said Pagenaud, who is fifth in the championship standings. "We got caught up in qualifying, so we didn’t get a good lap in. But I tell you today this car was probably the fastest one out there. It’s good to see that we can produce such a great job with a one-car team and to fight with the Penske and Ganassi teams.

"I have to thank the crew for doing great pit stops. They say you can’t pass around here, but I have a few tricks I’m not going to tell anyone. It was a fun, physical race."

A week earlier, in the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Pagenaud qualified sixth on the 1.8-mile street circuit. But an engine change at the behest of Honda Performance Development engineers following the initial practice session (unapproved under INDYCAR rules) cost him 10 spots on the starting grid. Still, he weaved to a sixth-place finish after 100 laps.

"With a sixth and fifth in two starts, I feel really confident going into Long Beach,” Pagenaud added.

Matey was the seventh chassis produced by Dallara Automobili at its Italy facility – the chassis number that team co-owner Sam Schmidt requested – and picked up Dec. 15. It’s also on Twitter at @Matey77.

Say, bon jour.