Marcus Ericsson, Honda Win Opening Round of Detroit Doubleheader

June 13, 2021 — DETROIT, Mich.

• Marcus Ericsson scores his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory at Belle Isle Park
• Honda drivers have now won five of seven races in 2021 
• Second race of doubleheader weekend runs on Sunday

Taking advantage of a late-race mechanical problem for Will Power, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson leapt to the front of the field following the second of two red flag race stoppages to win the opening round of the Detroit Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend.  The victory is the first for Ericsson, now in his third season of Indy car competition, the third for Chip Ganassi Racing this season and the fifth for Honda.

The 70-lap contest was stopped twice, first on Lap 24 for a single-car crash that sent Felix Rosenqvist hard into the Turn 6 retaining wall.  Rosenqvist was alert and conscious following the impact, but was transported to a local hospital for additional evaluation.

Running a close second to race leader Power in the closing laps, a second red flag – for Romain Grojean’s single-car crash – stopped the race with just seven laps remaining.  A mechanical issue for Power prevented him from taking the restart, and Ericsson led the rest of the way to take the checkers by 1.7 seconds over Rinus VeeKay.

Following Ericsson, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan trio of Takuma Sato, Graham Rahal and Santino Ferrucci finished fourth through sixth, respectively.

Detroit Grand Prix Race 1 Honda Results

• 1st Marcus Ericsson                   Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 4th Takuma Sato                         Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 5th Graham Rahal                       Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 6th Santino Ferrucci                   Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
• 7th Alexander Rossi                    Andretti Autosport Honda
• 8th Scott Dixon                           Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 9th Ed Jones                                Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda
• 14th Colton Herta                       Andretti Autosport Honda
• 15th Alex Palou                           Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
• 16th Jack Harvey                         Meyer Shank Racing Honda
• 17th James Hinchcliffe                Andretti Autosport Honda
• 23rd Romain Grosjean-R Dale    Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
• 21st Ryan Hunter-Reay               Andretti Autosport Honda
• 24th Jimmie Johnson-R                Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers’ Championship (unofficial, after 7 rounds)

1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                     263 [1 race win]

2. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP                               248 [1 race win]

3. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda                   237 points [1 win]