IndyCar: Grosjean and Erickson on the podium at Long Beach

The F1 veterans again demonstrated their inexhaustible skills: Roman Grosjean and Marcus Erickson drove flawlessly on the challenging street circuit in Long Beach, had a great third round of the IndyCar season and deservedly climbed to the podium.

In the closing laps of the race, it looked like a real duel was about to unfold between them, and this would be very curious, but although Marcus got fairly close in his old rival’s car, the interval remained within a second almost to the finish line.

That was just a dispute for second place, winning the race at the California circuit after starting from pole, young driver Andretti Autosport, Grosjean’s partner Kyle Kirkwood. This is his first win in IndyCar and it is symbolic in its own way that Michael Andretti also took his first win in Long Beach in 1986.

In theory both Grosjean and Erickson could also claim victory, but Roman had to save fuel in the last part of the Long Beach Grand Prix and was not given the chance to attack at full strength, and the front wing was damaged on the Swede’s car, which started at speed.

Of course Grosjean had to act wisely as his partner was leading the race and it was important for the Andretti team simply to win the winning double, and the order in which the riders finish plays no special role in this. phase of the season.

In addition, Kirkwood drove perfectly, and after the race Roman Grosjean was the first to admit: “Of course I would rather be in his place, but Kyle got an absolutely deserved victory.”

As Marcus Erickson won the first round of the season in St. Petersburg, finished 8th in Texas and took the podium today, it allowed Swedish rider Chip Ganassi Racing to take the lead in the individual standings.

The next leg of the season will be held in two weeks at Alabama’s famed Barber Motorsports Park street circuit.