Was Marcus Ericsson justified in criticism of Indy 500 finish, or was it sour grapes?
One year after winning the biggest race of his life, Marcus Ericcson had to settle for second Sunday afternoon.
Last year, Ericsson became only the second Swede to win the Indy 500. Sunday, he came just a half a lap short of going back-to-back.
A late-race crash forced a one-lap shootout for the win in the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500. While Ericcson started the final restart in the lead, he was passed on the outside by a hard-charging Josef Newgarden as the cars raced down the backstretch one final time.
As Newgarden stopped his car on the frontstretch and ran into the stands to celebrate with the crowd, Ericsson stood on pit road looking dejected.
Obviously, he was not satisfied with the race finish. When asked how he thought the end of the race should have played out, Ericsson said it should have finished under caution.
Of course, Ericsson would have won if the race had finished under caution. But when asked why he did not like the one-lap fight to the finish, while some may say he was whining or touting spoiled grapes, Ericsson cited safety concerns.
“I think it wasn't enough laps to go to do what we did,” Ericsson told reporters in a post-race press conference. “I don't think it's safe to go out of the pits on cold tires for a restart when half the field is sort of still trying to get out on track when we go green.
“I don't think it's a fair way to end the race. I don't think it's a right way to end the race. So I can't agree with that.”
When asked if he planned on talking to INDYCAR about the finish, Ericsson said he would not.
“It is what it is,” Ericsson said. “I just have to deal with it. I think I did everything I could. I did an awesome last restart. I caught Josef by surprise and kept the lead into (turn) 1, but it wasn't enough, so for sure it's hard to swallow.”
Ericsson was soon joined in the press conference by Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 winner who finished 16th in his final 500. Kanaan disagreed with Ericsson’s opinion that the race should of finished under yellow.
“You know, it's funny because obviously like you have guys like Santino (Ferrucci) and Marcus that are mad, and you have Josef that's happy,” Kanaan said. “But we need to think about the show.
“The biggest complaint we have every year was we shouldn't finish a race under the yellow. That's going to hurt someone. Actually, 32 guys are pissed right now and one guy is happy. That's the reality.
"Could have they called it earlier? Yes. Could have, should have, would have, but we ended under green, and that's what the fans kept asking us every time.”
Ferrucci, who looked dominant throughout the race but had to settle for third, also disagreed with Ericsson.
“I don't mind what INDYCAR did,” Ferrucci said. “I think they did a great job. I agree with you, to the fans, and I said that earlier when someone asked me what I thought of the reds. It's just I think Marcus has a slightly different opinion which is totally cool because he finished second.”
Ericsson’s feeling of disappointment will likely sting for a while. But with IndyCar back in action on the streets of Detroit next Sunday, sulking in the disappointment would serve no good use to Ericcson.
Even he knows that.
“I feel disappointed because I think we did everything right," Ericsson said. "When that red came so late, I thought I was a bit too late, so I thought when the yellow came out with three laps to go, whatever, in my world we don't restart that race.
“But no, it is what it is. You have to play with the cards you're given, and I think we nailed it today. We did everything right. I did everything right.
“You can't do more than that. Again, I think Josef is a worthy champion, and I congratulate him on that.
“But I just think it's a bit tough to sort of accept how it ended. That's my feeling after. But I'm very proud of our efforts and our performance today.”
Leaving Indianapolis, Ericsson sits second in the overall point standings, 20 points behind overall leader Alex Palou with 11 races remaining.