Ericsson comeback caps debut Markham street race
The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham delivered a dramatic finish Sunday as Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson roared from seventh to first in the closing laps to secure his fifth career NTT INDYCAR SERIES win and end a 63-race winless run. The 90-lap event on the 12-turn, 2.19-kilometre temporary street circuit became a late test of pace, tyre strategy and patience.
After dropping from the lead to seventh when he pitted with 21 laps remaining, Ericsson mounted a sustained recovery on fresh alternate tyres and overtook Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean for the lead with five laps to go. Ericsson crossed the line 7.5305 seconds clear, a margin that reflected the decisive charge he mounted after his late stop.
- Winner: Marcus Ericsson (Andretti Global)
- Second: Romain Grosjean (Dale Coyne Racing)
- Third: Will Power (Andretti Global)
For Grosjean, it was an agonising near-miss. He pushed for his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory but was denied at the final hurdle — the result marking yet another close call on a return to form that included his first podium since 2023.
Andretti Global celebrated a double podium as Will Power, who started 25th and last on the grid, worked his way through the field to finish third. The result underscored the challenging nature of a newly minted Markham street layout that combined tight hairpins with longer, faster sections.
"Yeah, it's been long enough. We worked so hard and the #28 crew, RVI Group's Honda today was fantastic," Ericsson said after the race, reflecting on the long-awaited triumph.
Strategies, cautions and the street-circuit test
The race unfolded as a tactical puzzle. Pole-sitter Louis Foster (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) led at the green and initially built a gap, but the race’s complexion shifted through tyre changes, early contact and caution periods. Several teams elected differing pit strategies; some drivers went off-sequence in an attempt to find clean air or gain a timing advantage.
Incidents on the first laps forced repairs and pit visits for some contenders: rookie Caio Collet was sent to the pits early after suffering a flat and bent toe link, while Felix Rosenqvist also adjusted strategy after registering an apparent slow puncture. Those early events underlined how unforgiving a street circuit can be, particularly in its debut year when tyre management and traffic are paramount.
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Global |
| 2 | Romain Grosjean | Dale Coyne Racing |
| 3 | Will Power | Andretti Global |
| 4 | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 5 | Pato O'Ward | Arrow McLaren |
The temporary circuit in Markham — laid out through urban streets — proved a stern examination of driver precision. The Turn 5 hairpin became a flashpoint late in the race when Ericsson and teammate Will Power made contact while Ericsson pressed for third; Ericsson called the bump "unfortunate," and Power said he understood the competitive context.
Beyond the podium, local interest will focus on what the new event means for Markham: a boost to the city’s profile as a host of major motorsport events, the logistical test of staging a high-profile race on city streets, and the potential economic ripple effects from teams, support staff and fans. For the series, the Markham race added a fresh street circuit to a calendar increasingly focused on urban venues that combine spectacle with challenge.
As the paddock packs up and teams shift attention to the next stop, the lasting image from Markham will be Ericsson’s late-race surge — a reminder that in street racing, a race is not decided until the final laps and that strategy and courage can overturn long droughts.
