Indy 500 Results 2022: Marcus Ericsson Holds On to Win Ahead of Pato O'Ward
May 29, 2022
It all came down to the final two laps.
Jimmie Johnson's crash with just four laps to go forced a red flag, essentially setting up a two-lap sprint to the finish. That left Marcus Ericsson, who had a solid lead before the crash, to defend his advantage in far more hectic circumstances.
But defend it he did, holding off Pato O'Ward's attempts to pass him to win the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500.
"I couldn't believe it," Ericsson said on the NBC broadcast about the red flag after his win. "You can never take anything for granted, and obviously there were still laps to go, and I was praying so hard it was not going to be another yellow. But I knew it was probably going to be one. It was hard to sort of refocus, but I knew the car was amazing. ... It was still hard, I had to do everything in the end to keep them behind."
NTT INDYCAR SERIES @IndyCar"I can't believe it. I'm so happy."<br><br>A jubilant <a href="https://twitter.com/Ericsson_Marcus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ericsson_Marcus</a> basks in his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a> victory.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDYCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDYCAR</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/CGRTeams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CGRTeams</a> <a href="https://t.co/Eo3u2S6YJ6">pic.twitter.com/Eo3u2S6YJ6</a>
It was Ericsson's first Indianapolis 500 victory, his first win on the season and the third of his career.
O'Ward finished second, with Tony Kanaan, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi rounding out the top five.
Zach Sturniolo @zachsturEricsson was the least spoken-of Chip Ganassi Racing driver entering the 500.<br><br>— Scott Dixon eyeing an elusive second 500 win.<br>— Tony Kanaan’s eternal speed at Indy.<br>— Alex Palou the series’ defending champion.<br>— Jimmie Johnson making his race debut.<br><br>Marcus Ericsson wins it all.
Phillip Horton @PHortonF1Well, that was not the 2018 Sauber driver I'd have expected to take a massive win today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ericsson?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ericsson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a>
It was a tough day for the front row of Scott Dixon, Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay. Dixon, the pole-sitter, led for 95 of the 200 laps but was penalized for a speeding violation on a pit stop near the end of the race, eliminating him from contention.
#Indy500 on NBC @IndyCaronNBCScott Dixon locks up on his way into the pits and gets a pit lane speeding violation. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indy500</a><br><br>📺: NBC and <a href="https://twitter.com/peacockTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacockTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/gBpP6XiG1Y">pic.twitter.com/gBpP6XiG1Y</a>
Palou, meanwhile, had to go to the back of the field after getting nicked for an unlucky illegal pit stop following a crash involving Callum Ilott. Because he had run out of fuel and wasn't going to be able to continue pace lapping, he was forced to pit while they were closed.
And VeeKay had a nasty crash against the wall in the 39th lap, ending his day prematurely.
#Indy500 on NBC @IndyCaronNBCFront row starter <a href="https://twitter.com/rinusveekay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RinusVeekay</a> is out of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indy500?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indy500</a> following a collision with the wall in turn 2.<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/IndyCar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndyCar</a>)<br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/nbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbc</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/peacockTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacockTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/EDPWiQausT">pic.twitter.com/EDPWiQausT</a>
"We put the car on the front row. We were in P2, but it was tough out there. The car was a little bit free all race," VeeKay said after the crash. "Yeah, I just turned into Turn 2, the car gets loose. Once that happens, you're a passenger and couldn't do anything. Yeah, just a bummer, really. I think we had a good shot at a good finish or maybe a win. But yeah, just caught me off guard."
Turn 2 also claimed Johnson, Ilott and Romain Grosjean, proving to be the track's trickiest conundrum on an exciting day of racing.
A day that ultimately belonged to Ericsson, an unexpected but deserving winner.