The 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach was a weekend of contrasts for Andretti Global. While Kyle Kirkwood celebrated a commanding victory, teammate Marcus Ericsson grappled with a race that didn’t unfold as hoped.
Ericsson began the race from a strong fifth position, having qualified alongside teammates Kirkwood and Colton Herta in the Fast 6. This performance underscored Andretti Global’s competitive edge on the 1.9-mile street circuit.
Opting for the alternate tire compound at the start, Ericsson’s strategy mirrored that of Kirkwood. However, the race dynamics shifted unfavorably for the Swede. An unremarkable start, coupled with pit stops that didn’t align optimally with the race flow, saw him lose valuable positions.
“A bad day for us, but we were sort of spiraling in the wrong direction all the way through, to be honest. Disappointing. We had a lot of speed in the 28 car, but it’s just stuck behind slower cars all day and it’s frustrating,” Ericsson remarked post-race.
Despite personal setbacks, Ericsson acknowledged the team’s overall progress. He expressed satisfaction with the collective performance, particularly highlighting Kirkwood’s success.
“You know, I’m super happy for that group and you know, we’re making progress as a team and that’s really good and yeah, really happy with them. But yeah, we’ve got some work to do on our side,” he added. As the season progresses, Ericsson remains focused on leveraging the team’s strengths and addressing areas of improvement. The next race at Barber Motorsports Park presents an opportunity for redemption and a chance to capitalize on the evident pace of the Andretti Global Honda. He knows the car is fast and his teammate has proven, that Palou can be beaten. You need to havea perfect drive, but it’s not impossible.
Philipp Kraus
