Felix Rosenqvist steadily moved his way up the field for Sunday’s Hy-Vee One Step 250. While he only started 16th, he didn’t waver in his approach. The Swede just kept passing cars to put himself near the top 10 at the midway point. While he was in the top 10 for that Lap 158 caution, he didn’t pit with 5 others on the lead lap on Lap 163. He now had track position and didn’t give it back up.

Rosenqvist was the top McLaren and even made his way to Josef Newgarden’s rear wing in a fight now for the win. However, he lost pace as the final stint went along and was easily settling in for a runner-up result on a sun filled day in Central Iowa.

That final caution with 10 to go bunched the field back up and cost Rosenqvist a podium as a result. He slid from second to fourth on that final restart with 3 to go to settle for his 14th career top 5 finish in his 74th start.

“The last restart, I don’t know, I felt like Will (Power) kind of pushed me up into the marbles,’ he said. “I was very lucky to finish the race, as I was on full lock just waiting to see how it was going to end up.”

Rosenqvist said that he had never been more bummed about a fourth place finish as it ruined a good drive up.

“Hell of a day for us and glad we’ve got some momentum. Wish I was on the podium though,” he rued.

This was a massive audition for the 32-year-old soon to be free agent. By qualifying on the front row in Indy, to having a 6th top 10 finish of the season and 33rd of his career, he’s shown enough that he merits another chance with another team if McLaren elects to let him go at seasons end.