Ganassi get 20/20 vision for next year’s Indycar Series

In the last few seasons the IndyCar Series has seen an influx of new and young talent to take on the old guard who are far from past their sell-by-date. Dixon, Power, Bourdais, Rahal, Sato and Hunter-Reay have been the flag bearers over the last decade. Then in comes Newgarden, Rossi, Jones and Chilton to shake things up a little, including an Indy 500 win for ex-F1 refugee Alexander Rossi. The series was back on the up and up.

Then came 2019 and another bumper crop of talent that more than exceeded their status as rookie drivers.

Then in 2019 and we see another bumper crop of talent that more than exceeded their status as rookies.

Leist, Ferucci, Ericsson, Rosenquist, Herta, and Harvey. A multicultural band of merriment that, in my opinion, have literally transformed the series into one of the most exciting single-seater motor sports in the world.

The depth of talent is like no other series. 36 drivers scored points in 2019 with rookie Colten Herta taking seventh overall scoring two wins, two podiums and three pole positions for the new team Harding Steinbrenner Racing.

Felix Rosenqvist Indy Grand Prix pole award 2019

Even that wasn’t good enough to pip Sweden’s Felix Rosenqvist to the outright rookie of the year. Rosenqvist was sixth overall for Chip Ganassi Racing with one pole and two podiums.

Of course, no one came near the podium haul of the mild mannered maestro, Scott Dixon. Again he took the title fight all the way to the end for Chip Ganassi Racing including ten podiums, two wins and fourth overall.

So Dixon is still on course to be the ‘GOAT’. For you sheep and goat lovers that’s ‘Greatest Of All Time’. His teammate Felix Rosenqvist was the top rookie of 2019 and kept Dixon honest all year long. Now Ganassi have made another decisive move that could see them challenge the mighty Penske and Andretti teams for the decade to come from 2020 onward.

Sweden’s Marcus Ericcson (main picture) is joining the team in 2020 and I think the combination of Dixon’s consistency, Rosenqvist’s speed and Ericsson’s fast learning curve could make Ganassi the potent force they were a few years ago when Dixon and Franchitti were dominating the series.

2020 will be Chip Ganassi’s 31st season in Indy and with 12 championships to his name, Chip has no plan on slowing down.

Let’s not forget that Penske Racing will be formidable as they are always are.

Andretti, with the addition of Alexander Rossi and Zach Veach, in the last few seasons are back to being a force to be reckoned with. All in all, the next decade in Indy could well be a golden era for the sport.

Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske at the 2019 Indy 500, Photo:Mike Harding

So why is the 29-year-old Ericsson such an important addition to the Ganassi arsenal?

There are a lot of reasons, and in my opinion, the biggest is he is yet to show his true potential and talent in a top team in motorsport. Now with Ganassi, he has that chance.

His junior career saw him win both a BMW title and then a Formula 3 title in Japan. After a few average years in GP2, with his best finish sixth overall in 2013, Ericsson moved on to F1.

Between 2104 and 2018, Ericsson gained huge experience at the highest level against the best. Unfortunately he never had the equipment to shine with the likes of the Caterham and Sauber teams who were just not competitive.

So 2020 is huge step for the affable Swede. Already friends with fellow countryman and now younger teammate Rosenqvist, both will be a Scandinavian smörgåsbord of raw potential in a new Viking invasion. They even live in the same apartment complex in Indianapolis thanks to Rosenqvist’s recommendation. Their relationship goes back to their karting days in Sweden, so these two need no introductions.

Add the calm and unique skills of five-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and these two Swedes could not have a better mentor to bring out the best in them and bring out the full potential of a reinvigorated Chip Ganassi Racing team.

CHIP GANASSI :

“I think Marcus brings a lot of unique experience with him having competed in several championships around the world. When you have someone with that type of background, it gives him other points of reference that helps to develop his potential and add to the overall racing program. We’re looking forward to seeing what Marcus can do alongside Scott and Felix.”

ERICSSON:

“It’s a team of winners and their history speaks for itself. I’m very thankful that they believe in me and I will do everything I can to make 2020 another successful year for the team. I’m also very excited to work with two of the best drivers in the series in Scott and Felix. I’m looking forward to putting what I’ve learned this year to use in my second year in the NTT IndyCar Series.”

Let’s not forget there’s a fourth member to this lineup which will also make this one of the most dynamic teams in Indy. Sweden’s Stefan Johansson is in the team as manager of both Dixon and Rosenqvist. With his vast knowledge of both F1 and Indy, this is going to be a very interesting combination capable of beating any of the current field.

It may also be the perfect catalyst for Dixon to be pushed towards his sixth title and beyond.

Scott has suffered in the past on carrying the whole team on his shoulders, which he has done with aplomb. Now he has two young bucks to push him forward and pool the racing data for the whole team’s benefit.

Ericsson actually reminds me of a young Scott Dixon. Thoughtful and fast, with great feedback. Aggressive when he needs to be, but not impulsive. Consistency and speed in abundance, Ericsson’s learning curve on the ovals especially, has been breathtaking in 2019. St Pete and the other street circuits are also not a problem for a driver who was on pole at Macau (F3 Grand Prix) in his day. Coupled with his experience in Formula One alongside the likes of Charles Leclerc at Sauber, it’s given him all the experience he needs to perform and win in Indy.

So Chip Ganassi Racing have a clear vision for the future decade and the talent to get it done.

They say hindsight is 20/20, a phrase used to describe that it is easy to be knowledgeable about an event after it has happened.

I say Chip’s vision for 2020 has never been clearer. Good luck boys we will be watching.