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 seek out Ericsson profitable races, combating for podiums and ending sixth within the championship. Uniquely, Chip Ganassi Racing is the staff that has propelled Palou, but additionally the staff that Ericsson’s final IndyCar win (St. Petersburg) was with.
Since shifting to Andretti World in 2024, it’s been a problem for Ericsson, with only one runner-up outcome (Detroit, ‘24) and 10 high 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 plenty of races. We type of misplaced plenty of factors. We nonetheless had good velocity. It was a promising first 12 months.”
That velocity offered confidence going into final 12 months, however seemingly each weekend one thing went fallacious. The most important gut-punch of all was dropping 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 means. (It) was a very disappointing season.
“It has been plenty of type of taking a look at myself within the low season making an attempt to determine how I can get again to the extent I do know I might be at. Been plenty of work put in from my aspect, but additionally the staff’s aspect. They’ve labored actually exhausting to attempt to get me extra comfy within the automotive, yeah, get the automotive extra to my liking.”
Marcus Ericsson, Andretti World at Phoenix Raceway
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
There have been new additions over the offseason at Andretti World, notably with Will Energy abandoning 17 years at Staff Penske to switch Colton Herta. The staff additionally added one other key member from Penske in Ron Ruzewski, who takes over as staff 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 very 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 coming into his eighth season in IndyCar, is aiming to seek 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 sphere.
“There is a bunch of issues, as all the time. IndyCar continues to be tight. That is the factor; final 12 months, it wasn’t that we have been unhealthy, we have been simply lacking slightly bit. IndyCar as of late you miss slightly bit, abruptly you are P20. It is not such as you’re tenth or twelfth. It is such a aggressive subject, you may’t be slightly bit off with the setup or your driving. If you’re, you are within the again.
“I believe all these issues made it powerful final 12 months. We have been working exhausting within the offseason to return 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 need to be again within the entrance of the sphere 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 occasions previously. That is my large purpose for the 12 months.”
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