Marcus Ericsson broke a 64‑race winless streak on Sunday, clinching victory at the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy held on the temporary street circuit in Markham, Ontario. The Swedish driver, piloting the No. 28 RVI Group Honda, held off a late charge from former Formula 1 racer Romain Grosjean to win by 7.53 seconds.
Race highlights and key moments
Ericsson, now racing for Andretti Global, followed a strategy of increased aggression after a string of near‑misses earlier in the season. He stayed out longer than most competitors during the final pit window, a decision that paid off when he emerged in seventh place with 21 laps remaining.
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Will Power, his teammate in the No. 26 TWG Honda, recovered from a practice crash and a six‑position grid penalty to finish on the podium, giving Honda a clean sweep of the top three spots. Power’s steady climb through the field highlighted the team’s overall pace on the 2.19‑mile, 12‑turn course.
Alex Palou, the points leader, ran a conservative race and settled for fourth place. The result kept his championship lead intact ahead of the upcoming Freedom 250 at Washington, D.C., where he hopes to secure a fifth title.
Impact on the championship standings
Palou’s fourth‑place finish left him with a comfortable margin over his rivals, though the points gap remains under the 216‑point threshold that eliminates drivers from title contention. Behind him, Kyle Kirkwood moved back into second place in the standings, pushing David Malukas to third and Christian Lundgaard to fourth. Ericsson, now ninth overall, remains mathematically alive for the championship, a status he described as “by a bee’s tail.”
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The win should boost Ericsson’s confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. Consistent strong finishes can translate into better sponsorship exposure and a stronger negotiating position for next year’s contracts, especially given the competitive nature of the IndyCar market.
Ericsson reflected on the victory, saying, “It’s been long enough… we were the fastest car all day, I thought.” He added that the team’s work each weekend had finally yielded the result they felt they deserved. The driver also acknowledged a brief contact with Power in Turn 5, calling it “unfortunate” but necessary to maintain his race position.