Marcus Ericsson is carrying an edge with him into the 2026 IndyCar season.
That’s as a result of the 35-year-old Swede is determined to get again to his profitable methods.
Whereas it would really feel like a century in the past with Alex Palou’s dominance, one would solely have to return to the 2023 season to search out Ericsson profitable races, combating for podiums and ending sixth within the championship. Uniquely, Chip Ganassi Racing is the workforce that has propelled Palou, but additionally the one Ericsson’s final IndyCar win (St. Petersburg) was with.
Since shifting to Andretti International in 2024, it’s been a problem for Ericsson, with only one runner-up outcome (Detroit, ‘24) and 10 prime 10s over 34 races.
“Yeah, I positively really feel like I’ve a chip on my shoulder going into this season,” stated Ericsson, who has 4 profession wins, together with the 2022 Indianapolis 500.
“I felt like the primary 12 months with Andretti was promising. We simply did not handle to complete a whole lot of races. We type of misplaced a whole lot of factors. We nonetheless had good velocity. It was a promising first 12 months.”
That velocity supplied confidence going into final 12 months, however seemingly each weekend one thing went fallacious. The largest gut-punch of all was shedding the lead within the Indianapolis 500 with 13 laps to go – to Palou – and ending second, solely to have that outcome thrown out after a violation was present in post-race technical inspection.
“Actually final 12 months ought to have been a greater 12 months,” Ericsson stated. “It was simply going the opposite method. (It) was a extremely disappointing season.
“It has been a whole lot of type of taking a look at myself within the low season attempting to determine how I can get again to the extent I do know I will be at. Been a whole lot of work put in from my facet, but additionally the workforce’s facet. They’ve labored actually laborious to attempt to get me extra comfy within the automotive, yeah, get the automotive extra to my liking.”
Marcus Ericsson, Andretti International at Phoenix Raceway
Picture by: Penske Leisure
There have been new additions over the offseason at Andretti International, notably with Will Energy abandoning 17 years at Workforce Penske to interchange Colton Herta. The workforce additionally added one other key member from Penske in Ron Ruzewski, who takes over as workforce principal.
There was additionally a reshuffling of personnel for Ericsson, who has a brand new race engineer atop the timing stand in Ron Barhorst.
“Been a extremely promising begin with him in Sebring and Phoenix,” stated Ericsson, noting preseason testing.
“I felt like we made some large steps to get the automotive extra in type of the window I need the automotive to be in. That makes me very excited.”
With the competitors extraordinarily tight, Ericsson, who’s getting into his eighth season in IndyCar, is aiming to search out that final little bit that may flip a median outcome into one thing that places him again into the battle on the pointy finish of the sector.
“There is a bunch of issues, as at all times. IndyCar remains to be tight. That is the factor; final 12 months, it wasn’t that we had been unhealthy, we had been simply lacking somewhat bit. IndyCar lately you miss somewhat bit, all of the sudden you are P20. It isn’t such as you’re tenth or twelfth. It is such a aggressive subject, you may’t be somewhat bit off with the setup or your driving. In case you are, you are within the again.
“I feel all these issues made it powerful final 12 months. We have been working laborious within the offseason to come back again and be robust.”
And all of that work will get utilized proper out of the gate on the website of his final victory with this weekend’s season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“My mindset is that I wish to be again within the entrance of the sector combating for podiums and wins regularly, combating up entrance within the championship,” Ericsson stated.
“I do know I can try this. I’ve proven that loads of instances up to now. That is my large aim for the 12 months.”
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