2022 Indy 500 winner looking for repeat while embracing new role as ‘Be the One’ ambassador

Now in his fourth season with Chip Ganassi Racing, Marcus Ericsson is coming off a 2022 INDYCAR SERIES to remember. Ericsson finished sixth in the series points standing, which included a win at the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Ericsson’s victory was the fifth for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Ericsson followed up the 2022 by winning this year’s INDYCAR SERIES season opener, winning the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Before the 2023 INDYCAR SERIES got underway, Ericsson talked with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about winning the Indy 500, what his goals are for this season, and what it means to share The American Legion’s “Be the One” initiative to slow the number of veteran suicides.

The American Legion: You’ve obviously been a very successful part of Chip Ganassi Racing since The American Legion came aboard two seasons ago. But this is your first real involvement with the “Be the One” campaign. What does it mean to you to have that branding on your car this season, knowing the mission behind it?

Marcus Ericsson: It means a lot, because I’ve learned through The American Legion about veterans and veteran suicide, and all of those challenges that they face. I think that (“Be the One”) initiative is so important. For me to represent that and represent The American Legion and that initiative, it definitely means a lot.

Question: Did you have any idea the number of veterans that were taking their own lives each day in this country before that?

Ericsson: I had no idea, and I was very shocked when I heard the number. That’s why it’s so important, what The American Legion is doing and for us to be a part of it.

Question: When you’re driving and you’ve got The American Legion on your car, you’re representing men and women who have at one time worn the uniform of this nation’s armed forces. Talk about what it means to you to be able to represent that group of people who have made a lot of sacrifices for the rest of this nation.

Ericsson: It means a lot (to represent members of The American Legion) because of the sacrifices they’ve made. To represent them in the best possible way is very important. For me to represent all of those people that’s done so much for this country, that is something I think is very important and something to be proud of.

Question: Something that (CGR teammate) Alex Palou has talked about is how much they enjoyed being able to interact with American Legion members. Are you looking forward to being able to meet some of the men and women you’re actually representing when you have that American Legion branding on your car?

Ericsson: Definitely. I think one of the cool things is it’s such a community. I never realized how big it was or how powerful that community was. To bring part of that community to racetracks … and to interact with and meet those people and hear their stories, I think that’s a very cool thing that I’ll be able to experience more this year.

Question: Do you sometimes look back at the 500 last year and kind of have to pinch yourself? Is it still at times surreal, and does it still feel as special as it did that day when you saw that checkered flag?

Ericsson: It’s sunk in more for sure, but still, all your life and all your career you work toward winning something like that. So, it’s still sort of hard sometimes to understand you really did it. The challenge, though, is when you win it once, you want to do it more times. So, it’s got my motivation even stronger to try to do it again. But of course, I think back to that day a lot, and it’s something that’s going to be with me the rest of my life.”

Question: What are you goals for this season, as an individual driver and as part of the team?

Ericsson: I think for us, as a team, our two big goals every year are to win the 500 and win the (series) championship. For me personally, those goals are the same. Those are the two goals for us as a team … and I want to do both for the team. For me, I’ve had steady progress since I came to Ganassi. Every year I’ve become better and better, and I’ve got to keep that going.