Ericsson wins the Indianapolis 500 Miles

Swede Marcus Ericsson won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday May 29 ahead of Mexican Pato O’Ward after a breathless final due to a red flag four laps from the end followed by a new start .

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The joy of Swede Marcus Ericsson, winner of the Indianapolis 500 Miles, on May 29.

The podium is completed by Brazilian Tony Kanaan, a 47-year-old veteran.

Thanks to this victory, Marcus Ericsson takes the lead in the provisional general classification of the IndyCar championship, which includes the Indianapolis 500 Miles.

This is the 2^e success of a Swedish pilot during the famous American race after that of Kenny Bräck in 1999.

The 31-year-old ex-F1 driver Ericsson took the race lead in the final laps and was able to retain it after the restart, battling wheel-to-wheel through the final corners of the oval circuit with Pato O’ Ward.

« I can not believe it », said Ericsson, who drank the traditional winner’s milk. He thanked his team Chip Ganassi, one of the most famous in the IndyCar championship.

Contested under a bright sun, this 106^e edition of the 500 Miles was marred, as usual, by numerous incidents, all of which were not serious.

The first was the fact of the Dutchman Rinus Veekay who hit the wall at 38^e lap, prompting the first intervention of the safety car to clear the track of debris.

Spaniard Alex Palou, who was fighting for the lead at the start of the race, lost all his chances when he saw the pit entrance close in front of him when Briton Callum Ilott crashed at 68^e lap as he prepared to stop for refueling.

The Swedish Marcus Ericsson, winner of the Indianapolis 500 Miles, on May 29.

Forced to slow down in front of his mechanics and then stop a few laps later, the Spaniard crowned 2021 IndyCar champion by having finished 2^e of the 500 Miles then fell to the 26^e place before starting an impressive comeback bringing him to the 9^e place on arrival.

Grosjean accident

At the halfway mark poleman Scott Dixon was in the lead, the New Zealander ahead of American Conor Daly, Pato O’Ward and Marcus Ericsson. The French Simon Pagenaud and Romain Grosjean were then respectively at 11^e and 18^e squares.

Grosjean then left the track shortly after at 106^e lap, without harm to him, ending his first experience of the famous American race.

« The car spun, I don’t know why. There were no warning signs in that corner. I’ll look at the telemetry to try to figure out what happened, » explained the pilot on American television after the accident.

New Zealander Scott Dixon exits the pits during the Indianapolis 500 on May 29.

At 36 and with 179 F1 Grands Prix to his credit, the French driver started in IndyCar last year but had initially decided not to participate in races on oval circuits, such as the 500 Miles of Indianapolis, judging them too dangerous before changing their minds this year.

Scott Dixon, who seemed on track to win the race, however lost his chances 25 laps from the end by entering the pit lane too quickly and thus receiving a penalty forcing him to stop again.

It was then an accident within five laps of the arrival of veteran Jimmie Johnson, ace of Nascar races who started in Indianapolis at 46, who came to reshuffle the cards.

The race was red flagged with Ericsson in the lead. The Swede managed to maintain his advantage when it was restarted, O’Ward failing in his attempt to pass him on the last lap.

Brazilian Helio Castroneves, four-time winner of the race (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) finished 7^e. At 47, he was trying to become the all-time record holder for Indianapolis victories. Three other drivers, AJ Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser, all Americans, also have four successes there.

AFP/VNA/CVN