Marcus Ericsson, the Swedish-born racing driver who claimed victory in the 2022 Indianapolis 500, blends seamlessly into the fabric of Indianapolis despite holding one of the city’s most coveted titles. Living in the heart of the city, Ericsson’s approachable demeanor allows him to move through downtown largely unnoticed, occasionally stopping to engage with fans who recognize him for his remarkable achievement at The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
As a full-time IndyCar competitor, Ericsson is now preparing for the 109th edition of the Indianapolis 500, which takes place this Sunday. This single event offers an opportunity for Ericsson and notable contemporaries such as Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, and Pato O’Ward to capture national attention, as they compete over 200 laps to claim one of motorsport’s most prestigious honors and momentarily dominate the American sports landscape.
The Challenge of Sustaining Stardom in America’s Open Wheel Racing
Despite the legendary status of drivers like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears, IndyCar has faced ongoing challenges in maintaining consistent recognition beyond the Indy 500. This struggle has roots in the split of American open wheel racing during the mid-1990s, which created a void that NASCAR filled as the dominant national racing series.
Adding to this complexity is the surge of Formula 1’s popularity in the U.S., partly bolstered by Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” which has introduced global audiences to the personalities behind the helmets. IndyCar, meanwhile, continues to refine its identity, balancing the preferences of traditionalists with demands for exciting competition across a variety of circuits, including superspeedways, short ovals, street courses, and road courses.
A recent media rights deal with Fox Sports now broadcasts the entire IndyCar season on network television, coinciding with an extensive driver-focused marketing campaign. Ericsson noted in discussion with CBS Sports that this campaign has generated significant enthusiasm within the paddock and along Gasoline Alley, signaling optimism about IndyCar’s potential to reach new audiences in a crowded sports market.
“I think we definitely have some work there. There’s not only NASCAR and F1 as competition, but there’s also all the other sports,”
Ericsson said. “To get the fans to tune into IndyCar, I think we definitely have a challenge there. We have a strong base of followers that sort of follow our series, but it’s about getting out to the new fans and getting new fans into the sport. And I think the 500 is the best showcase for that.
“So getting people to come out to the 500, but also getting people to understand that there’s more than just the 500. The whole championship is very intriguing. We go to very different types of tracks, and that makes us unique, I think, as a series that we race on the big superspeedways, the short ovals, the street courses and beautiful road courses. As a driver, as a team, you need to be very dynamic in the way you sort of perform from week to week because it’s all very, very different. And I think that’s a unique thing with IndyCar that we need to push that out. You need that unique skillset to be able to perform at all those different types of tracks.
I think we have good racing, some of the best racing in the world, in IndyCar. And we need to make more people aware of that and tune in and watch when we do go racing.
— Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar Driver
From Formula 1 to High-Stakes IndyCar Competition
Ericsson’s credibility extends beyond his Indy 500 win due to his prior career in Formula 1. Between 2014 and 2018, he competed in 97 F1 events with Caterham and Sauber, gaining valuable experience on world-class circuits before transitioning to IndyCar in 2019. This move coincided closely with Formula 1’s ascent in American popularity, fueled by documentaries emphasizing driver stories.
IndyCar now faces the challenge of introducing its drivers as distinctive personalities to the public, reminiscent of how past legends like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, and Helio Castroneves became household names. Ericsson emphasized the difficulty of establishing connection and recognition when drivers compete behind helmets, which limits the audience’s ability to engage with them personally.
“I think that’s where we have a big challenge as a series, to get our personalities out there and make it easy for fans to get to know the drivers,”
Ericsson said. “Because we do have a lot of really cool personalities in the paddock. I think that’s always a challenge in racing.
When you have drivers in cars with helmets on, it’s hard for people tuning in to watch a race to sort of get to know the drivers, right? So I think that’s a big one to help grow the sport.
— Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar Driver
Looking to Rebound After a Heartbreaking 2023 Finish
Sunday’s race brings further motivation for Ericsson as he seeks his second Indianapolis 500 title amid strong competition. The previous year, Josef Newgarden reclaimed victory in a dramatic and contentious finish that denied Ericsson a consecutive win. With only four laps remaining, Ericsson was leading when a caution flag appeared, typically signaling an end to the race under yellow and awarding Ericsson the win.
However, officials made the unusual decision to deploy a red flag to enable a green-flag finish, resulting in a one-lap shootout. Newgarden capitalized on aerodynamic drafting to overtake Ericsson, leaving him frustrated but determined to use the defeat as a catalyst to improve and claim another victory.
“What happened in ’23 definitely is always gonna be a bit of a frustration for me, because the circumstances around it were a bit strange,”
Ericsson said. “But still I think ever since then I’ve used that as motivation to win another one, and that sort of drives me daily to get back and win and show that I can do that and win my second one.
I think when things go against you, you can choose to be angry about it and then sort of live your life being angry about it, or you use it as motivation to become better. And that’s sort of the mindset I’ve taken around it. This year is a big year. It’s probably gonna be a sellout here at the Speedway, so it’s gonna be a huge 500. So of course it would mean everything to win it again.
— Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar Driver
Ready to Race from the Third Row with New Support
Ericsson secured a spot among the Fast Nine in qualifying and will begin Sunday’s race from ninth position, situated on the third row. Behind the wheel of the No. 28 Allegra Honda for Andretti Global, he aims to leverage his experience and speed to navigate the intense race ahead. The partnership with Allegra marks a new sponsorship venture for both the company and Ericsson.
Allegra, a well-known allergy treatment brand, found synergy with Ericsson, who is an allergy sufferer. This pairing fits well with the heightened visibility the Indy 500 provides, especially as Ericsson needs focus and sharpness on and off the track during this demanding month.
“Allegra is obviously a huge brand, and for me being an allergy sufferer it was a perfect fit when there was an interest there for them to come aboard for the Month of May. It was just a natural fit, really,”
Ericsson said. “For me having that product available with zero brain interference and non-drowsiness, it really is for not only racing but also daily life with all the stuff I’ve got to do with training and media things and sponsor things. It’s just super important for me to always be super sharp. So for me, it was a very natural fit and I’m very proud to represent them during the month of May.
— Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar Driver
IndyCar’s Moment to Capture American Sports Attention
As Marcus Ericsson pursues his mission for a Marcus Ericsson second Indianapolis 500 win campaign, the broader IndyCar series is striving for sustained prominence in the American sporting consciousness. With renewed media exposure, charismatic drivers, and a richly varied race calendar, IndyCar hopes to build from the flame lit by the Indy 500 and ignite interest throughout the season.
The stakes are high both for Ericsson individually and the sport collectively. A sellout crowd is expected at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, underscoring the event’s significance. If Ericsson succeeds, not only will he cement a historic personal achievement, but IndyCar could leverage the momentum to expand its fanbase, cement its identity, and reclaim pride within American motorsports culture.
