PARIS – Simon Pagenaud has returned to France a conquering hero.

France’s first Indy car champion in nearly a decade is touring Paris as part of a media tour to celebrate his championship. The tour culminates later this week with ceremonies in his hometown of Monmorillon, France.

Pagenaud and the Astor Cup have been a big hit on some of France’s key media outlets. He’s visited his car on display at the "Mondial de l'Automobile" Paris motor show on Sunday, then Monday's full schedule was highlighted by a three-hour interview with national sports outlet L'Equipe and documentary interview with Canal+, the Verizon IndyCar Series’ French television partner.

Tuesday, the agenda included an early morning photo shoot for Agence France Presse and Le Point at Place du Trocadéro with the Astor Cup (with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop). Pagenaud, who is a big fan of Rocky movies, recreated the film’s famed steps scene in his own French way running up the stairs of the Park to meet the Astor Cup. 

He then took girlfriend Hailey McDermott and his dog Norman for a Bateaux Mouches tour on the River Seine (pictured left) to revisit some of the sites he hasn't seen in a few years. Le Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris, the Eiffel Tower, Assemble Nationale, Jardin de Médicis.

Pagenaud will chat with fans at 1:30 p.m. ET on INDYCAR’s Facebook Live page (Tune in: Facebook.com/INDYCAR). And click below to watch a behind the scenes video of Pagenaud's tour, so far.