IndyCar

Marcus Ericsson ends 63-race drought to pip Romain Grosjean in Ontario

Motorsport Technology
2 months ago
3 min read

Marcus Ericsson ended a 63-race winning drought to come through victorious in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, pipping Romain Grosjean to the flag.

It was a quite remarkable charge through the field from the Swede, who passed his former Formula One rival with just five laps remaining – Grosjean having led for 28 laps of the race. Will Power finished third.

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Markham – Joe Skibinski

“It’s been long enough,” Ericsson is quoted on IndyCar.com. “It doesn’t come as much of a surprise. We’ve had such a good year.

“We’ve been working every weekend, getting stronger and stronger, qualifying up front every weekend. We might not have got the results we deserved every weekend, but I really felt we deserved (this).”

Ericsson and Grosjean’s careers overlapped in Formula One for a brief period from 2014 – 2018 when the Swede spent a year for struggling Caterham and four years at Sauber.

At the same time, Frenchman Grosjean was behind the wheel of LotusF1 and HaasF1 Team cars with the latter having arguably the better machinery.

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This time, race victory owed much to team strategy.

It was with 21 laps remaining that Ericsson came in for fresh rubber to take him to the end of the race.

Romain Grosjean leads the field in Ontario. Credit – James Black

And it proved more than sufficient, the RVI Group Honda driver passing Grosjean on his dwindling fuel and tyres and stretch away to a 7.305s victory.

For Grosjean, who has become something of a crowd favourite since his death-defying F1 escape from a fireball in Bahrain, a first victory since GP2 in 2011 goes on.

Credit – James Black

“Honda did amazing with us,” Grosjean is quoted on motorsport.com “They worked so well, gave us the exact fuel number to cross the finish line with nothing left in the tank.

“Nothing much you could do to defend. Not meant to be today… I had no more fuel, no more tires, no more anything. I just gave it all.”

But who knows, his time may come next.

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Markham – Joe Skibinski

“Control what you can control. I think that comes from Andre Agassi, the book read. I did everything I could,” he said. “Very happy with my team and my performance. Gives me hope for next week, Freedom 250, another great one.”

It all means that fourth placed Alex Palou still holds a commanding 133-point lead over nearest rival Kyle Kirkwood, who could only manage 9th with 13th placed Ontario finisher David Malukas four points behind his fellow American in third.

With just four races remaining, can anyone stop Palou? Next up, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C on August 22-23.

Motorsport Technology

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