Marcus Ericsson was left fuming after narrowly lacking his likelihood to attain a second consecutive victory within the Indianapolis 500.
The Indy 500 was red-flagged a complete of 3 times, the final of which necessitated a one-lap dash following only one formation lap out of the pits. Ericsson led that restart, however was handed by Josef Newgarden on the ultimate tour.
“I simply thought it was an unfair and harmful finish to the race,” Ericsson stated after the race got here right down to a one-lap dash after a crash with 4 laps remaining.
A multi-car accident involving the Benjamin Pedersen and Ed Carpenter arrange the final restart. Ericsson had taken the lead after a earlier restart.
“I don’t assume there was sufficient laps to go when the yellow got here, so I feel it ought to have completed underneath yellow,” he stated.
“We’ve by no means performed a restart out of the pits, we don’t get the tyres as much as temperature.”
Ericsson stated the delay in throwing the ultimate crimson flag led to an unprecedent final-lap restart. “They need to have referred to as it earlier. In the event that they wished a crimson, they need to have referred to as a crimson earlier. I feel once they saved it going, then I feel they need to have referred to as it.”
The Ganassi driver stated there was nothing extra he may have performed to maintain Newgarden behind him on the finish. “I feel we did every little thing proper behind the wheel.
“I did an superior final restart – I caught Josef utterly off-guard and acquired the hole, and saved the lead into flip one, which nobody has performed all day. However I simply couldn’t maintain it on the again (straight). I used to be flat, however I couldn’t maintain it.”
Regardless of the frustration over his defeat, Ericsson praised Newgarden, who scored his first win within the race at his twelfth try.
“Congratulations to Josef, he did every little thing proper as effectively. He’s a worthy champion. However I’m simply very upset with the best way that ended. I don’t assume that was truthful.
“I really feel like we did every little thing proper, I really feel like we gained that race, after which it form of acquired taken away from us. It’s what it’s. It’s robust to swallow, for certain.”
Ericsson discovered himself on the receiving finish of aggressive defending from Newgarden on the run to the chequered flag. However he harbours no in poor health emotions in the direction of Newgarden for the best way that he raced.
“I imply, you’ve acquired to do what you’ve acquired to do to win this race. I knew he was going to do it. I nonetheless tried to get a run on him, however it was not sufficient, sadly. He did it effectively.”
Newgarden dived beneath the pit entrance dividing line as they sprinted to the road. “I don’t assume it was too unhealthy,” Ericsson stated. “For me, it’s tremendous to maintain doing what we’re doing. It’s okay for me, I feel.”
Ericsson got here simply 0.097 seconds away from being the primary back-to-back winner of the Indianapolis 500 since Hélio Castroneves in 2001 and 2002 – and solely the fifth driver ever to win the race in consecutive years.