ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Marcus Ericsson kicked off his 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1 with a solid sixth-place finish, marking a significant improvement after two difficult years with Andretti Global. The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner began the race in second place, driving the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda, and maintained that position for nearly two-thirds of the challenging 100-lap competition on the 14-turn, 1.8-mile street course.
Ericsson’s performance during the second portion of the race played a crucial role in shaping his ultimate standing. His crew chose to fit his car with a set of used Firestone red sidewall alternate compound tires during the pit stop on lap 36. These tires provide greater grip than the primary black sidewall tires but tend to wear out faster.
Tire Strategy Affected Ericsson’s Final Standing
As Ericsson’s stint on the worn alternate tires progressed, he began losing significant time, falling more than a second per lap behind race leader and eventual winner Alex Palou. Despite the decline in tire performance, Ericsson remained competitive.
It was really tough, that second stint on reds killed our race,
Ericsson shared with Frontstretch.
You know, if we had a sticker red [set of tires] there, we would have finished on the podium, no doubt. So, yeah, that just makes it a bit disappointing. But anyway, overall, I was really happy with the way I drove this weekend.
I felt like I was aggressive. I was back to the way I should be driving. So, a lot of positives to bring.
Race Dynamics and Key Position Changes in St. Petersburg
On lap 65, Ericsson was overtaken by Scott McLaughlin, dropping him from second place. He responded immediately by defending his position aggressively against Marcus Armstrong the following lap before Christian Lundgaard passed him, moving ahead of the 2023 St. Petersburg race winner. Shortly thereafter, Ericsson made a pit stop, cycling out in sixth place, where he held firm until the race concluded.
Throughout the race, Ericsson fought to manage deteriorating rear tires. He described his efforts, stating,
My rears were done, so I was just like desperately trying to keep the car on track and keep cars behind me. So it’s quite on the limit, but that’s how it goes.
Ericsson Reflects on Recent Challenges and Growth
Last year proved difficult for Ericsson, with only two top-10 finishes and a 20th-place finish in the overall IndyCar points standings. Determined to change his trajectory for 2026, Ericsson put considerable effort into improving both mentally and physically over the offseason.
I’ve been really analyzing a lot last year and I was pretty pissed off with myself,
he admitted.
And then you know, just my performance last year and especially the end of it, it was not, I was not myself driving, you know. I was really disappointed with that, so I’ve really been working hard this winter, mentally, especially to come out and be strong and confident and show that on track. And I really feel like I did that this weekend, so I’m really proud of that and you know we’re off to a great start.
Next Race on the NTT IndyCar Schedule
Following the promising performance in St. Petersburg, Marcus Ericsson and the Andretti Global team will prepare for the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, scheduled for Saturday, March 7. Ericsson’s strong return suggests he is regaining the form that made him a formidable competitor on the IndyCar circuit.
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