Marcus Ericsson believes winning the 2022 Indianapolis 500 was his greatest mental challenge. As the 110th running approaches, the Swedish driver is relying on that same psychological edge to secure a second title for Andretti Global. Driving the No. 28 Honda, Ericsson has ramped up his training, adding ten pounds of muscle, incorporating Pilates for core strength, and working daily with mental performance coach Stig Wiklund. He credits this routine with helping him handle high-pressure moments with greater confidence.
A key part of Ericsson's mental preparation involves focusing on mindfulness and breathing exercises, a practice he adopted after the death of fellow Swede Avicii in 2018. For this year's race, he unveiled a helmet promoting mental health awareness with the message "Stop the Stigma." He argues that this mental fortitude was decisive in 2022 when a late-race red flag forced him to sit on pit road for ten minutes, leading the race. "All the mental work I'd done to keep me focused and not let my thoughts think about how close I am to winning... made the difference," he says.
Beyond the mental game, Ericsson is focused on physical resilience. His training includes weightlifting five days a week, neck-strengthening exercises to handle G-forces, and boxing for conditioning. He has also partnered with Allegra to prevent seasonal allergies from becoming a distraction on race day. With a slow start to the season, Ericsson sees a second Indy 500 win as a critical momentum shift in his quest for a championship.