Marcus Ericsson Continues Formula 1 Hot Streak for IndyCar, IMSA on Belle Isle

• Ericsson, who failed to reach so much as a podium in 97 Formula 1 races from 2014-18, finally broke through in the NTT IndyCar Series.

• To find Ericsson's last race win, one has to go back to his days in GP2 nearly a decade ago.

• Ericcson won only after Will Power's car failed to re-fire following a red-flag period with five laps remaining in the 70-lap race.

Marcus Ericsson had not won a race since, as he put it, "since he was a kid."

That all changed on Belle Isle on Saturday.

Ericsson, who failed to reach so much as a podium in 97 Formula 1 races from 2014-18, finally broke through in the NTT IndyCar Series, wining the first race of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit.

To find Ericsson's last race win, one has to go back to his days in GP2 nearly a decade ago. His win Saturday for Chip Ganassi Racing came in his 37th IndyCar start.

"I think Chip always says he likes winners," the 30-year-old Ericsson said. "I came here haven't won a race in eight years. I think when he realized that, he was like, Oh, you haven't won in that long? We need to change that.

"I think he's pretty happy that I won this race today. He wants drivers that can win. Today we had opportunities to do it, and I did. We as a team did it and delivered. I think that was a huge effort. I think us racing drivers, we always live with that pressure to try and win races and finish up front."

Not everyone, however, thought that Ericsson deserved the race win on Belle Isle. Count Will Power in that camp. Maybe even third place Pato O'Ward.

Power led 37 laps of the 70-lap main event but saw his chances for victory derailed in the strangest of fashions. He led comfortably with less than six laps remaining when former F1 driver Romain Grosjean crashed. IndyCar officials called for a red flag.

All the cars were called into the pits for the nearly eight-minute red-flag period. When it was time for the re-fire, Power's car failed to restart. He claimed it was due to overheating of the car's engine control unit (ECU) and blamed IndyCar for both the red flag itself and for the delay in allowing his Team Penske crew to bring cooling fans into the car during the stoppage. Power, the first one in line in the pits, was forced to wait until all the cars were in the pits before he could received cool air and water into the cockpit.

"Obviously, you don't want to see someone have a problem like that, especially he was leading the race," Ericsson said. "I was really fired up to try and get to him on that last restart because I've been saying that this year I want that first IndyCar win. That's highest on my list. You never want to see anyone have a problem, but I'll take (it).

"We've had some bad luck, I've had some bad luck the last couple years when we've been looking good. Today was our day, it was my day. That's racing sometimes. It's obviously bad for Will, but it was our luck. Just had to finish the job."

Ericsson led the field pulled out of the pits ahead of the idle Power. He went on to lead at the restart and hold of runner-up Rinus VeeKay and third-place Pato O'Ward to become IndyCar's seventh different winner in seven races. Ericsson joins Alex Palou, Colton Herta, Scott Dixon, O'Ward, Veekay and Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves as race winners in 2021's crazy season.

Ericsson also continued a hot streak for former F1 drivers trying to make his mark on Belle Isle this weekend. Kevin Magnussen, who drove last year for the Haas F1 Team, won his first first pole in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and first race with new Chip Ganassi teammate Renger van der Zande on Saturday.

"I feel bad for Will," Ericsson said. He did a great job out there, yeah. That's how it goes."

Added O'Ward, "I understand they want to end on green. I bet you if I was Will, I'd be telling you no. I feel for him, man. I think he would have walked away with it if it didn't go red. It really sucks."