Day 2 of Indy 500 practice featured cooler temperatures and changing weather conditions. Marcus Ericsson noted that the wind and cooler temps altered the car's behavior, providing valuable insights for teams.
Key points
Day 2 of Indy 500 practice had cooler temperatures.
Weather changes affected car behavior during practice.
Marcus Ericsson aims for another podium after winning in 2022.
Ericsson is competing in his eighth Indianapolis 500.
Mentioned in this story
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Marcus EricssonIndianapolis 500
Marcus Ericsson on changing weather conditions at Day 2 of Indy 500 practice
INDIANAPOLIS -- Day 2 of Indy 500 practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway brought temperatures that were noticeably cooler than Tuesday. Nonetheless, Wednesday afternoon was filled with six hours of practice for all of the 33 drivers for this year's Indianapolis 500.
Following a day of practice, Marcus Ericsson took some time to address the conditions of the weather and track. After winning the 106th running of the race in 2022, Ericsson looks to make another podium appearance this year. It will be his eighth time competing in the race.
"(Tuesday) it was very warm, very nice conditions," said Ericsson. "Today with the wind and the cooler temps, it really changes the behavior of the car. I think it was good for probably all teams to sort of see how the car changes in those conditions. And I think, for us, we learned some good stuff from it."
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) gets a ride through pit lane Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Q&A
What were the weather conditions during Day 2 of Indy 500 practice?
Day 2 of Indy 500 practice saw noticeably cooler temperatures and windy conditions compared to the previous day.
How did Marcus Ericsson perform in the 2022 Indianapolis 500?
Marcus Ericsson won the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2022.
How many times has Marcus Ericsson competed in the Indianapolis 500?
Marcus Ericsson is competing in the Indianapolis 500 for the eighth time this year.
What did Ericsson learn from the changing weather conditions during practice?
Ericsson noted that the cooler temperatures and wind changed the car's behavior, providing valuable insights for all teams.
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Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) looks down pit lane Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson (28) prepares to get into his ride Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Members of the Indy Ignite volleyball team talk with a crew member for Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian driver Helio Castroneves (06) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske driver David Malukas (12) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) talks with crew members Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) prepares to sit into his ride Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Crew members for Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) work on their car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson (28) puts on his helmet Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) puts in ear protection Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson (28) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Richard Shinall, a tire specialist with the car of Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood (27), wipes the rims of tires Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) talks Wednesday, May 13, 2026, ahead of practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The scoring pylon Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) makes his way to his pit box Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) puts in ear protection Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) sits in his pit box Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
1 / 21
Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
2 / 21
Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) gets a ride through pit lane Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) looks down pit lane Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson (28) prepares to get into his ride Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
5 / 21
Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
6 / 21
Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Members of the Indy Ignite volleyball team talk with a crew member for Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian driver Helio Castroneves (06) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
7 / 21
Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Team Penske driver David Malukas (12) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) talks with crew members Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) prepares to sit into his ride Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Crew members for Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) work on their car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson (28) puts on his helmet Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) puts in ear protection Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson (28) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Richard Shinall, a tire specialist with the car of Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood (27), wipes the rims of tires Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (10) talks Wednesday, May 13, 2026, ahead of practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
The scoring pylon Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) makes his way to his pit box Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) puts in ear protection Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) sits down into his car Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Photos: Drivers take the oval on the second day of practice for the 110th running of the Indy 500
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson (8) sits in his pit box Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ericsson hails from Sweden, but has lived in the Indianapolis area since late 2018. He made note of the region's volatile weather and how it may temper expectations.
"Looking at qualifying, the same place is going to be warmer for Saturday and Sunday. But, obviously in Indiana, you never know until we wake up in the morning."
He finished today with a top of speed of 224.274 mph, good for 19th at Wednesday's practice. With that in mind, the Swedish-driver was third for no-tow speed; the result of an impressive 17th lap that reached a speed of 221.204 mph.
After just 45 laps Tuesday, Ericsson turned 83 laps in Wednesday's practice. The 35-year-old Andretti Global driver also increased his top speed by nearly two mph from the day prior.
