The Latest Breaking News from Marcus Armstrong Ganassi

A pre-session downpour delayed the start of practice, and when it did run for 30 minutes, Ericsson lapped the 2.1-mile temporary street course in 1m31.7999s.

In a mixed-up strategy race, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Lundgaard dominated the opening stint but a yellow at half-distance after Romain Grosjean crashed his Andretti Autosport car set off a chain of events that meant he had to battle his way back to the head of the field.

Having raced on nearby Belle Isle Island from 1992, Penske Entertainment Corp revived the downtown circuit for the IndyCar event with a short and sharp 1.7-mile, nine-turn layout in the shadow of the General Motors Renaissance Center.

Ericsson's late move on O'Ward to secure victory arrived after polesitter Romain Grosjean and Scott McLaughlin collided while dueling for the lead the sent the duo into a tyre wall.

Marcus Ericsson opened his 2023 season in brilliant style after passing Pato O’Ward with four laps to go, but there was carnage throughout the field in the IndyCar season-opener at St. Petersburg.

Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda’s Marcus Ericsson topped the 2hr30min morning session on Day 2 at Thermal Club, leading the again impressive fellow Scandinavian Christian Lundgaard.