Marcus Armstrong, a 23-year-old from New Zealand, found himself in contention for a possible win towards the end of the race, despite starting 19th and being caught in a crash on lap 53 caused by Christian Lundgaard. This incident led to Armstrong’s fourth pit stop on lap 56, following a strategy similar to his teammate Scott Dixon’s, requiring careful fuel management.
During the last caution on lap 63, Armstrong moved up to second place as others pitted, trailing only six-time IndyCar champion Dixon. Initially falling behind by roughly 3 seconds, Armstrong closed the gap as Dixon faced challenges from Colton Herta.
Once Dixon passed Herta, he extended his lead, leaving Armstrong vulnerable to Marcus Ericsson’s fast-approaching car. Ericsson ultimately secured second place on the second-last lap, pushing Armstrong to third, where he crossed the finish line just as his car ran out of fuel.
Expressing his satisfaction, Armstrong said, “I’m very pleased. In my opinion, it’s been a long time coming, even though this is my second season.”
Reflecting on the chaotic race, Armstrong highlighted the challenges posed by tire and track conditions, leading to slippery surfaces and difficulties in generating tire temperature. He also noted the mistakes made due to the tires not working well early in the run, resulting in unexpected maneuvers and accidents.
Regarding the aggressive driving seen during the race, Armstrong suggested that some moves were made out of desperation rather than intention, with drivers struggling to stop due to the lack of grip. He emphasized the need to reconsider certain aspects of racing, particularly braking distances and ambitious overtaking attempts.
