ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Marcus Ericsson won a chaotic IndyCar season opener, leading the final four laps of the Firestone Grand Prix of St.
Petersburg after Pato O’Ward had engine trouble. O’Ward finished second by 2.4113 seconds and led 23 laps before his No. 5 Dallara-Chevrolet experienced a brief loss of power out of the final corner on Lap 97 of 100.
It’s the fourth career victory for Ericsson and his first since winning last year’s Indy 500. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver became the fourth defending Indy 500 winner to win the opening race of the next season.
It’s Ganassi’s second win in St. Pete and first since Dario Franchitti in 2011. Scott Dixon finished third, followed by Alexander Rossi (in his Arrow McLaren debut) and Callum Ilott in a career-best fifth.