History won’t allow it, but Marcus Ericsson would like to forget that the 2024 Indianapolis 500 even happened.

Ericsson was poised for a big showing in his first year with Andretti. The 2022 Indy 500 winner still feels like he should have won the 2023 as well. A late practice crash in Turn 4 last year set his team behind leading up to qualifying. The crew could never get the speed from the primary car into the backup car. Qualifying weekend also didn’t go according to plan.

During his first qualifying run on Sunday, Ericsson lifted off the throttle after crossing the yard of bricks. The problem was, he had just completed his third lap, not the fourth. A panic radio message followed, imploring him to keep going. His speed on that fourth lap was just 195.411 mph. He had just enough time for one final run to bump his way into the field.

Starting 32nd, Ericsson knew he had his work cut out for him. No one has ever won this race from that far back. Ray Harroun and Louis Meyer hold the record, which is the 28th starting position. Even so, the goal for Marcus was to work his way up through the field, and to make up some positions on pit road throughout the day. Unfortunately, Ericsson’s day would end seconds after it began.

Tom Blomqvist, making his first-ever Indy 500 start, lost control of his car in Turn 1 on the opening lap. He slid up and into Ericsson, destroying his car and putting an end to his miserable Month of May.

The first season with Andretti didn’t pan out the way Ericsson or the team expected. He finished the season with six DNF’s, one podium finish, and just one total lap led. With all of that out of the way, Ericsson is ready for a clean slate.

This season started well for Ericsson, finishing 6th in the opener at St Petersburg. It didn’t remain that way, though, as finishes of 21st, 12th, 20th, and 26th have relegated him to 16th in the championship standings. Marcus qualified 7th, 5th, and 5th in his first three races. Starting positions of 23rd and 20th in the last two races, including the mechanical issues on the IMS road course, have them itching for the oval.

Indianapolis could be the perfect place for Ericsson to turn his season around. If the Andretti cars are as fast as they appeared to be last month, Marcus could find himself back at the front of the field, going for another victory in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Ericsson believes that the struggles he and his team endured last year will ultimately make them better this time around. “Last year was definitely a building year, but the potential was there. It was a first for me with the team but I felt like the speed was there, which was really promising and as a team we were strong as well. We have a really strong group of drivers and team members, and for me to go into year two with that group is really exciting.”

A motivated Marcus Ericsson with a fast Andretti car might be the magical list of ingredients needed for another milk celebration.