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HomeNews and EventsMotorsports Round Up: Ericcson wins Indy 500

Motorsports Round Up: Ericcson wins Indy 500

Hamlin wins longest race in NASCAR history

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Former Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson won the 106th Indianapolis 500 under a yellow flag after Sage Karam crashed in Turn 2 of the last lap. Before the caution flag Ericsson and Pato O’Ward dueled for the race victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

“I knew the Huski Chocolate car was fast enough, but it was still hard,” Ericsson said. “I had to do everything there at the end to keep him behind.”

It was Ericsson’s first Indy 500 victory of his career and he became the second Swede to win The Greatest Spectacle in Racing Racing, Kenny Brack won in 1999.

O’Ward ended up second with Tony Kannan also on the podium. After six races Ericsson leads the 2022 IndyCar driver standings followed by O’Ward, Alex Palou, Will Power and Josef Newgarden.

Denny Hamlin qualified on the pole for Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and ended up winning the longest race in the history of NASCAR, 619.5 miles with two overtimes. It was Hamlin’s second Cup Series win this season and 48th of his career.

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

“It’s so special,” Hamlin said. “It’s the last big one that’s not on my résumé. It meant so much.” Hamlin said.

Hamlin finished .014 seconds ahead of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, who was followed by Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell.

After 14 races this season Chase Elliott leads the Cup Series standings with Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney and Martine Truex Jr. rounding out the top 5.

The Monaco Grand Prix had a rain delay by the first lap and after a hard-fought afternoon Red Bull’s Sergio Perez earned his first win of the season while also becoming a legitimate title contender.

“As a driver you dream of winning here,” Perez said. “After your home race I think there is no other more special race to win.” 

Carlos Sainz finished 1.154 seconds behind Perez and Max Verstappen got to the podium with a third-place finish. After seven races Verstappen holds a nine-point lead over Charles Leclerc in the driver standings and Perez is in third, 15-points off the lead.

News and Notes:

2007 F1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Go Bowling at the Glen on August 21 at Watkins Glen International. Räikkönen retired from F1 in 2021 after an extensive career with 21 race victories, 103 podium and 353 races. Räikkönen will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro for the Trackhouse Racing Team.

“I wasn’t looking to race again, but Justin came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program,” said Räikkönen. “This will be fun, but it’s something I will take very seriously. I know how competitive the NASCAR Cup Series is and it will be a big challenge.”

Räikkönen has two previous NASCAR races. In 2011 he drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and finished 15th in the North Carolina Education Lottery at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Also at Charlotte, he finished 27th at the Top Gear 300 on May 28, 2011.

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David P. Castro
David P. Castro
The Santa Rosa, California native is an experienced automotive and motorsports writer with a passion for American muscle cars. He is a credentialed automotive, NASCAR, and IndyCar reporter that graduated from the University of Nevada. A devoted F1 and NASCAR fan, he currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, son, Siberian Husky, Mini Cooper, and 1977 Chevrolet C10.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Mr. Castro. I am guessing you have never been to the Indy 500. One of the things which makes that race special, is the winner does not share the podium with either the 2nd or 3rd place finishers. As is often said, “at Indy there is one winner and 32 losers.”

  2. Mr. Baeke- as Indy, born and bred, I’m calling you absolutely correct. At Indy, spec cars or run-what-ya-brung, there’s the guy in the Circle drinking milk, and everyone else. Odd for Mr. Castro to make such an error.

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