IndyCar Free Sellers: Marcus Ericsson awaits Ganassi’s supply
Chris Owens, Joe Skipinski/Pinsky Leisure
Fort Price, Texas — Defending Collection champion Will Bauer’s title is off the board of potential IndyCar dealerships, however there’s nonetheless rather a lot to settle within the subject — beginning with the Indy 500 winner.
Marcus Ericsson is awaiting a contract supply to stick with Chip Ganassi Racing after the 2023 season (his fourth with the staff). The Swede stated he made it clear to automotive proprietor Chip Ganassi that he needed to remain within the No. 8 Dallara Honda, which has taken 4 wins since June 2021.
“Yeah, it is as much as him, principally,” Erickson stated Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. “He ought to give me a bid for the twenty fourth onwards. The ball is in his nook. I actually get pleasure from him on Ganassi, we have accomplished a whole lot of nice issues collectively and we might wish to preserve it going, however the ball is in his nook. He is aware of very properly what I would like.”
Two days earlier than Ericsson received the St. Petersburg season opener on March 5, Ganassi sang the rising star driver’s tribute to a small group of reporters.
“I would like him right here after this yr,” Ganassi stated of Eriksson. “He appears to have benefited from profitable the Indy 500 greater than anybody these days, which is nice. He is accomplished a superb job. He is been all over. It has been a extremely constructive factor for Marcus, the staff and the collection. He is grown up with that, too.”
Ericsson did not hammer out his present deal till late within the 2021 season (after a memorable win on the inaugural Music Metropolis Grand Prix). So he isn’t essentially apprehensive about it, however admitted he is been “pondering a bit bit about it in regards to the low season winner and speaking about it.”
“However now that the season has began, I’ve advised my boss and everybody else I need to concentrate on driving. They’re centered on these issues. Now the season has began, and I need to attempt to win races, win different 500s and the championship. That is the place I focus. (New contract) It is a kind of issues that occurs when it occurs. However I am proud of the place I am at, and I need to do properly.”
IndyCar’s two prime groups, Staff Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing, are usually very silent about their drivers’ contract standing.
Bauer confirmed Friday to journalist Bruce Martin That his new deal was for several seasons. Which means all three Penske drivers are on multi-year contracts (not like the Energy deal, Scott McLaughlin’s extension was introduced by the staff final yr).
However there’s extra uncertainty in regards to the 4 Ganassi automobiles aside from Ericsson. Whereas Scott Dixon has had a trip for so long as he desires (and the six-time champ has given no signal of retiring), Ganassi’s different two seats are but to be cemented past 2023.
The No. 11 is being break up this yr by rookie Marcus Armstrong and veteran Takuma Sato this season. In tenth place, Alex Ballou is believed to be in his closing yr at Ganassi earlier than heading to the Arrow McLaren.
The anticipated transfer will forged doubt on the way forward for Felix Rosenqvist, who returned to Arrow McLaren when the staff was unable to usher in Palou (who was embroiled in a contract dispute with Ganassi).
Except for Penske, almost all different IndyCar groups (together with Andretti Autosport, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and Meyer Shank Racing, which has Helio Castroneves on a contract yr) have seats probably open for subsequent season, and even drivers who seem like beneath Subsequent yr’s contract continues to be on the transfer (through acquisitions and choice years).
Though Juncos Hollinger Racing introduced a “long-term, multi-year contract partnership” final July with Callum Ilott, the second-year driver was cautious on Friday when requested how lengthy the extension had taken.
“It is what I would like it to be,” stated Ilott, who completed a career-best fifth in St. Petersburg. “I’ll say so.”
Earlier than returning to JHR, Elliott has turned sufficient heads as a rookie to get a number of groups , and he famous on Friday that he is nonetheless listening.
“I might like to speak to a number of the different huge groups,” Elliot stated. “Nothing to cease me from speaking. Look, you need to be honest. I agreed to (the deal), but it surely’s very clear I am very as a result of persons are keen on me as a driver, however I have to concentrate on the job I’ve right here.
“I’m assured that in a single yr, two years, three years, 4 years, if I would like it now, I’ll all the time be needed. I’m a ok driver and I needn’t lose confidence in that side. … I’m not apprehensive. “
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