  Recent experiments indicated that polymers can reduce the turbulent drag
beyond the asymptotic limit known as the MDR, leading to a laminar flow. In
this Letter, we show through direct numerical simulations that, when the MDR is
exceeded, the flow can remain in a laminar-like regime for a very long period
without being truly laminar. During this period called pseudo-laminar state, a
transient behavior is observed as a consequence of a small rate of polymer
energy injected into the flow. Later on, flow instabilities develop across the
channel, finally triggering elastoinertial turbulence.
