Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson in contract stalemate with team owner Chip Ganassi

INDIANAPOLIS — Few drivers have experienced a bigger boost from winning the Indy 500 than Marcus Ericsson, who has truly turned last year’s victory into a life-changing event but still is seeking his next contract.

Not only did it resurrect the Swede’s career, which had stalled after five seasons in Formula One, it also made Ericsson a bona fide superstar in both his native country and adopted hometown of Indianapolis.

But as Ericsson attempts to become the first back-to-back winner of the Indy 500 since Helio Castroneves 21 years ago, he does so without a contract in place for next year. It’s a maddening situation for Ericsson, who has been clear he wants to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing but whose phone is ringing with options from rival teams.

At issue is Ericsson’s seat at Ganassi is funded by a sponsor he brought to the team along with support from Swedish billionaire Finn Rausing, who has long backed Ericsson’s career. Essentially, Ericsson pays to drive the No. 8 car – a slight he made clear moments after winning the Indy 500 last season, when one of his first remarks was: “Not bad for a pay driver.”

Ganassi holds exclusive negotiating rights with Ericsson until August, when the driver formally can talk to other teams, so that has given him time to hear what others in the paddock have to say.

“I’ve noticed my phone being quite busy the last few months, and teams being pretty interested in my future. That’s definitely a new thing for me. It feels like people are taking notice and rating me as a driver, and that feels great,” Ericsson said. “I have great support from Sweden and my backers and sponsors and everything, and I’ve had that all my career, and I’m very, very thankful of that.

“But I feel where I am now in