Fansided

Alexander Rossi and the 5 best IndyCar storylines to watch this season

By Brittany Frederick

The No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of Scott Dixon. Photo Credit: Chris Gritzmacher/Courtesy of IndyCar.
The No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of Scott Dixon. Photo Credit: Chris Gritzmacher/Courtesy of IndyCar. /
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Marcus Ericsson makes his debut for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the 2019 IndyCar season. Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Courtesy of IndyCar. /

4. Marcus Ericsson’s rookie season

Formula 1 drivers are increasingly taking more interest in the NTT IndyCar Series, especially after Alexander Rossi proved that he could go from F1 reserve driver to championship competitor. The latest driver to transition from Europe to America is Marcus Ericsson, who spent five seasons in F1, mostly for Sauber.

Ericsson posted distinctly average results in Formula 1; his best finish was 8th, with a handful of 9th and 10th place finishes in there, too. Obviously he’s expecting better from his new contract with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and there’s no reason to think he can’t improve; Rossi is an example of someone with incredible talent who was able to reach his full potential once he had the opportunity.

It seems like he’s found a good match with his new team, too. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports is a solid team, and Ericsson’s new teammate James Hinchcliffe had nine Top 10 finishes last year. All preseason signs point to them having good chemistry, so if the rookie can learn from the veteran, this could be a potent combination.

Of course, it’ll be hard to duplicate the freshman success of Robert Wickens, but that’s another reason why this story is worth IndyCar fans’ attention. The SMP drivers will be competing with Wickens on their mind, and it would be fantastic to see them snag a win or two (or more!) in his honor.

Of course the ultimate dream would be to see Wickens join them in that No. 6 Honda before the end of the 2019 IndyCar season. While that may not happen, he’ll still very much be a presence in this team while Ericsson could add another strong piece to it.