Felix Rosenqvist’s first week as an Indianapolis 500 champion created an appreciation he didn’t see coming, and it was the result of being photographed and interviewed nearly nonstop since taking the checkered flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the most dramatic way possible.

“It’s kind of like a weird experience, like paparazzi stuff,” he said Friday. “That kind of made me happy that I’m not like super-duper famous.”

The past several days would suggest Rosenqvist has significantly moved up in Q Score. Based on his post-race schedule provided by INDYCAR, Rosenqvist gave more than 50 scheduled one-on-one media interviews since passing David Malukas just ahead of Indy’s famous Yard of Bricks, and that doesn’t include impromptu conversations with people seeking to understand the emotions associated with winning “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Rosenqvist rallied to edge Malukas by .0233 of a second in a side-by-side finish.

The “500” ended about 4 p.m. ET, and more than five hours passed before Rosenqvist finished with his media obligations. The official count was 14 interviews after several initial television hits and a lengthy press conference in the DEX Imaging Media Center.

Monday’s flurry was more of the same. Rosenqvist had his first on-air session at 7:20 a.m. Roughly 15 interviews and a winner’s day-after photo shoot later, he prepped for the Victory Celebration at the JW Marriott, where all his competitors congratulated him before he got on stage to accept the awards and thank his wife, family, friends and Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. An hour later, he was bound for Indy’s traditional New York media tour.

Rosenqvist met INDYCAR representatives in the hotel lobby at 7:45 a.m. in the Big Apple, and the day included another dozen or so media interviews. At 6 p.m., he was on the red carpet for the world movie premiere of “Pressure,” starring Indy 500 honorary starter Brendan Fraser.

Felix Rosenqvist

Wednesday began at 9 a.m. with the first of another 10 scheduled media interviews (photo, above). There were visits to the Empire State Building and Times Square for photo shoots. At 5:30 p.m., he boarded a flight back to Indianapolis, where he lives.

The time at home was brief, to say the least. Rosenqvist’s departure Thursday to Indianapolis International Airport was set for 6:10 a.m., and by 11 a.m. he was the featured guest at a media luncheon to kick off this weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., FOX, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). Two hours later, he threw out the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game (photo, top). (The ball was a bit high but on target.)

Rosenqvist had every reason to be gassed when Friday’s first practice began. He felt fatigued, but he said he was energized at the same time.

“Obviously, (I’m) tired, but I had fun with it,” he said of the attention. “(There were) a lot of interviews, but you’ve got to strike when the iron is hot, right? Also, I feel like I’m representing motorsports in a way maybe we normally (can’t). It’s kind of cool. It’s good for the sport.”

Rosenqvist said he didn’t get to prepare for this weekend’s street race as his norm – he didn’t get any time in the simulator, for example – but team and engineering meetings have been held on schedule.

“Physically (I’m) not in the best possible shape, but I don’t know, it’s pretty standard,” he said after Friday’s practice. “(Other preparation) wasn’t really that compromised – it’s actually the same as it was (for the Sonsio Grand Prix) when we had our baby.”

Rosenqvist missed a few days in advance of the IMS road course race as his daughter, Stella, was born May 4.

“We’ve all done this many times,” he said of racing in Detroit. “Maybe you’re losing a little bit to the others in the first couple of laps, but that’s all fine.”

Felix Rosenqvist

Rosenqvist posted the 11th-fastest lap of Friday’s practice, and he expects his No. 60 Honda (photo, above) will be higher on the speed chart when Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions are held.

Regardless of what happens, Rosenqvist knows he will be better prepared for next year’s “500.”

“It’s just bigger than I expected,” he said. “The outreach I’ve received, other athletes contacting me saying it was a great performance … you don’t really know before you win it.

“Obviously, I’ve (competed in the race) seven times and almost won it, but after those you kind of move on with your life and don’t follow so closely what happens to the winner.”

Now he knows. It’s a whirlwind.