Andretti Autosport announced today that Marcus Ericsson will join the team’s 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver lineup alongside confirmed teammates Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood.
“Like everyone else, we have paid close attention to Marcus’ success in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and have been impressed with how quickly he proved that he belonged with the frontrunners in what is arguably the most competitive INDYCAR field ever,” said Michael Andretti. “It’s no secret that we want to win races and Championships and to do that we need drivers like Marcus who have that natural talent and determined drive. We are excited for the winning mindset that Marcus brings to the table and I’m eager to see what next season has in store for us.”
The Indianapolis 500 Champion will take on his sixth season of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition in 2024 looking to add to his four race wins and 10 podiums. In addition to his INDYCAR success, Ericsson raced for five seasons in the FIA Formula One World Championship, has claimed Championships in both British Formula BMW and Japanese F3 and has race starts in both British F3 and Formula 2 (formerly GP2).
The race-winning Swede heads into the final three races of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in sixth place in the Championship standings with a win at the season opener in St. Petersburg and three podiums, including an impressive runner-up finish at the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
“I’m very happy and proud to be joining Andretti Autosport next season,” Ericsson said. “Andretti is one of the most legendary names in motorsports, so it is definitely a dream come true for me to join this team. I want to thank Michael and Dan [Towriss] for putting their trust in me and I can’t wait to get to know everyone in the organization. It’s a very exciting new chapter in my career and I’m really looking forward to getting to work achieving our goals together. Exciting times are ahead and I’m thankful for this opportunity.”
More information on Ericsson’s 2024 entry, including car number and partners, will be provided at a later time.
Grosjean Not Mentioned
I noticed in that wording from Andretti that Romain Grosjean’s name wasn’t mentioned as a driver for 2024. Not saying that he won’t be either, he is a free agent still, but I’m also not saying that it’s not noteworthy either, especially with where things stood just four months ago.
The team and driver went from a potential deal coming in May to as we sit on Aug. 23, nothing agreed upon yet.
“I think 2022 was definitely a very hard season. I couldn’t get the car to do what I wanted it to do. I couldn’t find the feel,” Grosjean said back in April following a podium finish in Long Beach.
“I’ve been racing for 25 years. I still doubt myself sometimes. I believe I’m one of the best in the world, but sometimes I still think do I still have it, do I still know how to drive.
“That’s why some people are so important for me. That’s why Texas being in front was important. Like today, finishing second is important. I still know how to do it. I’ll be 37 tomorrow. I wish I win for my birthday, but P2, I take it.
“Yeah, when we speak in Laguna Seca, I want to be with those guys fighting for the championship, and I think we get a chance to do that.”
He would then finish runner-up again in the next race at Barber. Returning to Andretti seemed like a formality. Michael Andretti was happy with him. Grosjean was happy in return. They’d both go on record in saying that they’d discuss a future in May and hope to have something lined up by the end of the month.
A championship was also something to be discussed. They were in the hunt for one.
Then all hell broke loose.
Grosjean’s performance has reverted back to how it was in 2022. Fast cars, costly errors, bad egos.
He had 2 poles and a third-place start in the 4 races before Indy. In the 10 races since, he’s qualified 18th, 19th, 3rd, 19th, 14th, 9th, 8th, 20th, 6th, 6th respectively. In regards to finishes, Grosjean has finished 11th, 30th, 24th, 25th, 13rd, 22nd, 11th, 12th, 6th, 18th.
He’s crashed out in five races and you can tell he’s worn this team out. This move for Ericsson could be in favor of Grosjean. Or it could be alongside too depending on how these next 3 races go.
If DHL stays, it lines up perfectly for Ericsson to slide into that ride. That’s if they stay too. Which leads me to my next point…
Ericsson Likely Didn’t Feel Valued At Ganassi
Some may wonder why Ericsson would leave a team that has allowed him to shine in favor of some dysfunction in Andretti. Well, it’s about respect and Ericsson you could tell didn’t feel like he was getting it at Ganassi.
He went from 12th in points to 6th then to 6th again last year. This year, he sits 6th again. He’s finished in the top 2 in each of the last two Indy 500’s and was a red flag away from being a two-time defending champion of that race.
So why leave?
It’s because he felt at this stage of his career he should be a paid driver, not one having to bring money.
“Yeah, I want him to stay. Yeah, I’m working hard to do it,” Chip Ganassi said of Marcus Ericsson during the Fast Friday press conference this past May.
So what was the hold up? Ganassi says the same thing as everything else.
“I’m not a big guy to be talking about our deals or our contracts or anything, but Marcus has a big future in the sport, and I want it to be on this team, sure, “he says. “Yeah, we just need to finalize some sponsorship, and away we go.”
That comment likely irked Ericsson and could have been damaging. I’ve heard Ganassi had offered Ericsson since that moment a new deal but Andretti seems to have offered more. Even without a definite sponsor lined up, Dan Towriss and Michael Andretti saw value out of Ericsson and made him feel the support that an athlete should and that welcoming atmosphere is why he ultimately decided to leave a championship level ride.
On Aug. 1, Ericsson could officially talk to other teams and 23 days later, he has a deal announced.
Move To Andretti Could Be Better Than He’s At Now
Some may wonder why go to a team and be third in third in the pecking order? Well, that’s where he’s at if he stays at Ganassi too. It’s always going to be Scott Dixon then Alex Palou there and with Andretti, Colton Herta then Kyle Kirkwood. However, as Grosjean has shown, this 28 ride is fast. All the Andretti cars are. They just have issues with race craft or strategy. Ericsson, is as evenly keeled as they come and is an consistent as they come as well.
62% of his starts have resulted in a top 10 finish. He’s finished in the top 10 in 12 of 13 races run this season.
Andretti has top 10 pace so give a top 10 driver a top 10 car and watch out. Which is why I feel like by this time next season, Ericsson could be Andretti’s lead driver in terms of points standing and opportunity.
What’s Next For Ganassi
Ericsson leaving signals what we all thought that Alex Palou is returning to Ganassi. I mean they can’t lose both so if Palou truly is back, then 75% of this team could remain the same as I’ve heard Marcus Armstrong is also down a path to not only coming back, but on a full season scale too.
That would put Dixon in the 9, Palou in the 10 and Armstrong in the 11. The 8 seat is down the line with Linus Lundqvist…
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