Ericsson graduated to F1 after his final GP2 year in ’13, first with the now-defunct Caterham team and then Sauber. Though he was an occasional point-scorer for the Hinwil squad, Ericsson spent more time fighting at the back than at the sharp end. He moved to IndyCar for 2019, first with Schmidt-Peterson and then Ganassi for the following season and this one.
It was a big day for Scandanavians in the Ganassi stable, as Kevin Magnussen then won the following Detroit IMSA round with Renger van der Zander for Chip’s eponymous team.
The Dane had already claimed pole, converting that into a race lead before quickly pulling out a 12sec gap.
The gap then came down as another F1 exile, Felipe Nasr, closed up to Magnussen’s team-mate van der Zander, but the latter held on to take the pair’s first IMSA win of the season.
It was Magnussen’s first win since the Barcelona round of the Formula Renault 3.5 series, during his title-winning year – eight years ago.
“I haven’t won a race since 2013 and it feels great,” Magnussen enthused. “The whole season we have been fast, but just not getting it to the end. We led a lot of laps this year and finally the right laps.
“Coming here and knowing I was going to be able to fight for wins was a real privilege. To go racing with this awesome car at these awesome tracks with this team is a dream. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to do that.
“To come out of this weekend with the big trophy it’s pretty special. I am back in a winning situation and really enjoying it.”
Magnussen and van Der Zander, run by a hastily assembled crack Ganassi squad for the 2021 season, showed pace straight away from the first IMSA round with their Cadillac DPi car, but this was the first time they’ve been able to capitalise and turn it into a race win.
“It felt like this win was way overdue,” he said. “Daytona, Sebring especially we were very strong and only had problems at the end after leading a lot of laps.
“It’s amazing to be in a team like this that won everything.”