Romain Grosjean ‘cried a little’ in podium finish in Markham

Jeffrey Hrunka - INDYCAR Contributor

Casey Shepherd (Motorsports Today, 2026)

Not close enough.

Romain Grosjean was four laps short of his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory, after being passed by Marcus Ericsson late in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Grand Prix at Markham. He was forced to settle for a runner-up finish after leading 28 laps on Sunday afternoon.

"Nothing much you could do to defend. Not meant to be today. Very happy for Dale Coyne Racing,” Grosjean, driver of the No.18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, said. “I told my engineer Bill Pappas, it's not that hard when everything goes well.” 

Grosjean was poised to win his first INDYCAR race after stretching his second stint over a multitude of caution laps to finish the race on a two-stop strategy. Ericsson, driver of the No.28 Andretti Global Honda, took a more aggressive approach, stretching his second run 38 laps to take the lead and build a 14-second gap over the field before diving into pit road on Lap 70.

With the benefit of fresh alternate tires and a refilled fuel tank, Ericsson was able to push hard to the end, while the leaders had to manage their tires and fuel to make it to the finish.

Exiting the pit lane sixth, Ericsson quickly made his way through the field and passed Grosjean with four laps to go. The mix of older tires and being at a fuel disadvantage is what ultimately cost him an opportunity to hold onto the lead, even with the benefit of clean air and additional push-to-pass.

“At the end of the race I knew we had to go 37-ish laps on the tires, on the fuel. That was going to be a challenge. When I saw the [Ericsson] pitting, Marcus, I thought there was no way he would catch us…. Next thing I knew, [Ericsson]was coming. 

Although Grosjean earned his first INDYCAR podium in over three years, last in the 2023 Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, he couldn’t help but be disappointed at being one spot short of his first win in 11 years.

“I cried a little. I'm not going to lie,” Gorsjean said. “But control what you can control. I think that comes from Andre Agassi, the book read. I did everything I could.”

It hasn’t been for a lack of trying. After joining the Formula 1 grid as a "full-time" rookie (he finished the back half of the 2009 season with the Renault F1 Team) with the Lotus F1 Team in 2012, earning a few podiums, he didn't drive a race-winning race car until signing with Andretti Global in INDYCAR in 2022.

Inconsistent results cost him his ride a year later, which forced him to drive for several backmarker teams to stay in INDYCAR.

“I did everything I could,” he said. “I went to Formula 1 for 10 years. In Formula 1, if you don't have the car, you don't win a race. Yes, it's a long time to have not won a race. I don't think I forgot how to win a race. I just think I didn't get the chance to do that.”

A podium is a step in the right direction toward winning again. Unfortunately, Grosjean’s INDYCAR future is unknown, as Dale Coyne Racing has yet to re-sign him or rookie teammate Dennis Hauger, driver of the No. 19 Honda, for the 2027 season. All Grosjean can do in the meantime is keep delivering results.

“I don't know how the strategy worked for the [Ericsson]… Obviously I haven't watched the race. Very happy with my team and my performance,” Grosjean said. “Gives me hope for next week.”

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to action on the Streets of Washington, D.C., for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23. Fans can tune in to the action at 11:35 pm EST on FOX or the FOX One app.