Marcus Ericsson faced a difficult moment in Indy 500 history during the 2023 race, as the defending champion lost a last-minute lead due to a disputed IndyCar restart. Josef Newgarden overtook Ericsson on the final lap to secure victory in the iconic event, marking his first win after twelve attempts.
The closing stages of the 2023 race were marked by multiple interruptions, with three caution periods in the final sixteen laps. The final caution emerged with four laps remaining, followed by a sequence of laps under caution before the race was halted with red flags. Unexpectedly, IndyCar resumed the race under green for a one-lap sprint to the finish without a traditional warm-up lap behind the pace car—an unprecedented move in Indy 500 history.
At the time representing Chip Ganassi Racing, Ericsson expressed strong disagreement with this unusual decision, feeling that it robbed him of the chance to secure back-to-back victories. Reflecting on the event ahead of the 109th running of the race in 2024, Ericsson spoke candidly about the lasting impact of that finish in an interview with Motorsport.
“It’s always gonna be a bit of a sting for me thinking about it,” he shared. “I was so close going back to back, and if that race would have been called like it [had been] called for over 100 years, I would be back-to-back champion.”
—Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar driver
“But at the same time, you know, that’s, that’s how it goes. This race is unique in its own way. And you know, I’ve accepted that. Whatever happened, happened. If anything, it just made me hungry to try and win again. It’s always going to be painful to think about how close I was… . It’s not something that keeps me up at night. Probably, like I say, giving me more motivation to try and win it.”
—Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar driver
A victory in 2023 would have made Ericsson the first driver since Helio Castroneves, who won consecutive Indy 500 titles in 2001 and 2002, to achieve back-to-back wins. Instead, it was Newgarden who completed that rare feat by winning again in 2024 with another dramatic pass on the last lap.
Strong family presence energizes Marcus Ericsson for the 2024 Indy 500
This year, Marcus Ericsson will start the 109th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 25, from the outside of Row 3 in ninth position, his best starting spot since fifth place when he won in 2022. Now racing with Andretti Global, Ericsson remains a competitive force at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, having been the fastest qualifier within his team.
His Andretti teammates—Kyle Kirkwood, Colton Herta, and Marco Andretti—qualified further back in 23rd, 27th, and 29th positions, respectively. Ahead of the race, Ericsson revealed that his entire family would be in attendance, replicating the support system that was present during his maiden victory two years ago.
“Yeah, no, I have all my family coming out today actually. Mom and dad and brothers, better halves, some other friends coming as well. It’s going to be a busy, busy weekend. A lot of guests, family and friends here, which is great. Last time my whole family was out to the 500 was 2022. That helped out, so hoping something similar this weekend,”
—Marcus Ericsson, interview with ASAP Sports
Despite his promising start at Indianapolis, Ericsson’s 2024 season has been below expectations overall. So far, he has only managed one top ten finish, a sixth-place result achieved in the season opener at St. Petersburg.
As one of the prominent Swedish drivers in IndyCar, Ericsson’s journey this year carries the weight of previous heartbreak at Indianapolis, along with the motivation to reclaim glory at one of motorsport’s most prestigious events. With his family’s support and a strong qualifying performance, Ericsson hopes to turn past disappointments into renewed success during the 2024 Indy 500.
