Ericsson survives two-lap shootout to win Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS :Sweden's Marcus Ericsson prevailed in a two-lap shootout to win a dramatic Indianapolis 500 on Sunday as the Brickyard reclaimed the mantle of the world's biggest single day sporting event, living up to its billing as the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing".

On a day of twists and turns on the 2.5 mile oval, the biggest came just six laps from the end when Jimmie Johnson got down on the grass and spun up into the wall bringing out a red flag and sending the cars onto the pit lane.

When the debris was cleared, the drivers returned to the track and with over 300,000 spectators on their feet for a breathtaking two-lap winner-takes-all sprint, Ericsson held off hard-charging Mexican Pato O'Ward to put his car on Victory Lane and give owner Chip Ganassi a fifth Borg Warner trophy.

"I had to do everything there at the end to keep them behind," said the 31-year-old after drinking the traditional quart of milk. "I can't believe it, I'm so happy."

Ericsson, a former-Formula One driver, becomes the second Swede to win the Indy 500 after Kenny Brack in 1999.

With five cars in the race, including pole sitter Scott Dixon, many expected to see a Chip Ganassi Racing driver grab the win but few predicted it would be Ericsson, the least celebrated of the all-star stable.

But after Dixon made a late pit stop blunder, Alex Palou suffered bad luck and Johnson crashed, Ericsson stepped up to seize his chance and was joined on the podium by another team mate Tony Kanaan in third.

O'Ward, who extended his contract with Arrow McLaren on Friday, shot up alongside Ericsson as the two cars charged into the final lap but could not get past the Swede, who had just enough speed to hold on for a third career win.

"Whenever the restart happened I had