Ericsson wants to be “treated as a top driver” in contract talks

Ericsson, who gained the 2022 Indy 500 and has completed sixth within the IndyCar standings with Ganassi for the previous two seasons, has no deal in place for subsequent season however can’t formally negotiate with different groups till August.

After remarking just lately that his cellphone has been “fairly busy” with curiosity from elsewhere, Ericsson has gone on report that he needs to stay at Ganassi for 2024 – however his drive there has to date been bankrolled by help from Swedish billionaire Finn Rausing.

Ericsson needs higher phrases going ahead, and when workforce proprietor Chip Ganassi was query by media at Indianapolis, he stated that “Marcus has an enormous future within the sport and I need it to be on this workforce” however that “we simply must finalize some sponsorship.”

When requested by Motorsport.com what Ganassi meant by that latter comment, Ericsson replied: “Yeah, it’s a superb query. However I don’t assume it’s a query for me, actually.

“I’ve stated a couple of occasions now that I need to be handled as a prime driver, as a result of that’s what I’m on this collection. It’s the place I wanna be and hopefully we’ll get to that time with Ganassi. I really feel like I deserve that.”

Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images

Ericsson stated he’s been hardened by his earlier profession, which included 5 years racing in System 1 with Caterham and Sauber/Alfa Romeo, earlier than he switched to IndyCar in 2019.

“It could’ve been good to have every little thing sorted already for the long run, however I feel – a minimum of in my profession – I’m used to working a lot of the season and never realizing what I’m doing the following season,” he added.

“Would I wish to have it totally different? Yeah. However it’s not the case, so I can’t actually focus an excessive amount of on it. For me, I must give attention to delivering on observe, I really feel I’ve performed that this yr, I’ve been sturdy this season with main the factors till the final race and we’re in good condition and looking out good for the five hundred once more this yr.

“I must hold my head on that, and give attention to that, and I feel if it was 10 years in the past, I’d have been extra affected by the state of affairs, however now I really feel prefer it doesn’t actually have an effect on me. I’m targeted on what I must do.”

Ericsson is in his fourth season with CGR, with whom he has scored 4 wins.

“I’ve liked my time to date with Ganassi, it’s been nice,” he stated. “I’ve been constructing yearly and getting stronger yearly with the #8 workforce. It’s been working very nicely.”