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On May 29, 2022, Marcus Ericsson was at the top of the world of Indycar, since he has just driven 500 miles faster than anyone on the planet.
At the age of 31, Ericsson won his first victory of Indy 500. Not long before, he had had problems finding his balance in Formula one.
Ericsson joined F1 in 2014 and lasted five seasons, but never won a race. In fact, his best ending was an eighth place in 2015, and he only had 11 Top 10 in his five -year period there.
But today, he is in the tradition of Indycar.
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Marcus Ericsson celebrates winning the 106th race of Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2022 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Grace Holgars/Indiestar/USA Today Network)
“The problem in F1 is that it is about being in the right car and the right team to win. In F1, the same boys win. In F1, all boys build their own car. Then, if you are a great team with many resources, it is easy to build a very good car. If you are a small team with less resources, it is more difficult,” Ericsson told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview. “So for five years, I was in smaller teams and I never had the opportunity to show what I could do. So Indycar emerged as an option, everyone has the same option, and you can configure it as a pilot. Awakening the day of the race knowing that I had the opportunity to win was something that really missed in formula one.”
Of course, no matter which circuit Ericsson is running, winning is difficult. There are no milk, beer and champagne showers in Victory Lane for no reason. For both Ericsson and runners, it is a mental game, knowing that you will lose much more often than you earn.
“It is very difficult, and it is one of the greatest challenges with the races. I would say that it is that mental side of things and always believe in yourself, pushing you forward and staying hard and staying confident,” said Ericsson. “That is a constant challenge that we all pass. Racing, golf, even if you want a lot, you will rarely want. It is something special, a lot of mental hardness is needed to work at a high level every weekend and spend that season after the season.”
Marcus Ericsson poses with the Borg-Warner trophy on May 29, 2022, after winning the Indianapolis 500. (Grace Holgars/Indiestar/USA Today Network)
“In the past, I was very driven by the results, I want to have so many victories and so many podiums in a year,” he added. “But I have learned in my career that this is not an excellent way to concentrate. Sometimes, there are things out of your control that is happening. In the races, there are many things that can go wrong. So I try to concentrate on my own performance. I want to have so many weekends where I felt that I played at my best time. And due to other circumstances, your best place can be a fifth place, but that was your maximum that day. same, and whatever my best.
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However, a way in which Ericsson obtains the most of himself is taking Allegra, a brand that will represent in Indy 500 this year. It is an association that is a perfect moment given the allergies season, but also makes a big difference on the track.
“Zero percent brain interference, keeping acute, without drainage, those are the keys not only for racing car but one day in life. And representing them in the Indy 500 is really great,” said Ericcson. “It is a perfect moment. All in my crew are using it to stay sharp, because every second second is important.”
Ericsson knows it better than anyone: he also led in the last return of the Indy 500 in 2023, but crossed the finish line in second place.
Marcus Ericsson has associated with Allegra to keep it sharp and concentrated while competing for another Victoria of Indy 500. (Scott Heins, courtesy of Allegra)
“When we run more than 200 miles per hour, you must be mentally there all the time. It is very important that someone like me can do that and not get away. The mental side is always something that I have focused, because the higher you are in any sport, but competing in particular, the mental strength can make a difference between winning and losing,” he added. “People do not realize how difficult our cars is to drive. He hit up to five gs, and that approach to stay sharp laser for two or three hours is definitely challenging. You are exhausted, the body is drained, the mind is drained, it is really difficult.”
The racing show is now less than two weeks, and Ericsson knows exactly what he has to do to bring the victory again.
Marcus Ericsson kisses the Borg-Warner trophy on May 29, 2022, to celebrate winning the Indianapolis 500. (Grace Holgars/Indiestar/USA Today Network)
“The month of May is about winning. This is our Super Bowl: the winner takes everything. I need to have a car that is under me, take it step by step, patience is the name of the game,” he said.
“It is a long month before arriving at the day of the race. And I hope that the car Allegra is in Victory Lane.”
