Ericsson seeks repeat victory as Kanaan bids farewell at Indy 500

Sweden's Marcus Ericsson will attempt to become the first driver to claim back-to-back Indianapolis 500 wins since Helio Castroneves in 2001-02, while fan favourite Tony Kanaan gears up for his final race at the famed Brickyard on Sunday.

Ericsson, who will start from 10th position on the grid, will face the 500 mile race with a different feeling after last year's dramatic victory gave Chip Ganassi Racing their fifth Borg Warner Trophy.

"It's always so special to come here to the speedway, especially in May, but to come here as a defending champion, it's just something different," the 32-year-old Ericsson told IndyCar earlier this week.

"The confidence I come here with, the attention from the fans when you are a winner, it's so different. I try to compete, but at the same time, embrace and enjoy that."

Yet eyes will also be on 48-year-old Tony Kanaan, Indianapolis winner in 2013, who will bring the curtain down on his career at the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing".

"I'm going to leave it all out there, and if that's good enough to win, fine," the 2004 IndyCar Series champion told reporters after qualifying on Saturday.

"Probably for the first time, I won't be sad, because I won't be (thinking) 'I have to do it next year'. I'll try to enjoy it with all my friends, my family and my fans."

Kanaan's fellow Brazilian, Castroneves will again look for a fifth Indy 500 victory to become the outright most successful driver in the history of the race.

Castroneves has starred in IndyCar since winning the 500 on his first two attempts in 2001 and 2002. After a third title in 2009, the 48-year-old did not win again until 2021 but failed to successfully defend his title in a seventh-place finish last year.

However, it is 26-year-old Spaniard