Indianapolis 500 Sees Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson Win After Red Flag Delay

deadline.com:

An all-time finish in the Indianapolis 500 saw a red flag halting the race with just four laps to go, setting up a sprint to the finish that saw Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson fend off a late charge to win.The first Indy 500 in front of a full capacity crowd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2019 saw a yellow flag come out on the final lap, but Ericsson was already in command.“I was praying so hard that there was not going to be another yellow flag,” Ericsson said after his win. “But I can’t believe it.

I’m so happy.” Ericsson becomes the second Swedish driver to win the Indianapolis 500.IMS owner Roger Penske (father of PMC  Chairman/CEO Jay Penske) purchased IMS in early 2020.

The ppushed the race to August that year with no fans in the stands. The race went on in 2021 during its usual Memorial Day weekend, but with limited fan capacity.Before the race, Roger Penske penned a letter posted on social media.Dear Indy 500 fans,Welcome to one of the greatest days of the year – Indianapolis 500 Race day.

We are so excited to open our doors wide at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and welcome all of our fans back to experience “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”For the first time since 2019, there will be a full capacity crowd in attendance to watch the Indianapolis 500, and I know our NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams and drivers will put on a great show.