Ericsson earns $3.1M from record Indy 500 purse

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson cashed in on the race’s report purse, incomes an unprecedented $3.1 million test for Sunday’s victory.

Prize totals had been introduced Monday, the identical day the annual victory celebration was held in downtown Indianapolis.

The 31-year-old Ericsson turned the second 500 champion from Sweden, becoming a member of 1999 winner Kenny Brack, who helped mentor Ericsson early in his profession. Ericsson drives for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Indy’s whole purse of barely lower than $16.1 million smashed the earlier mark of $14.4 million that was set in 2008.

Runner-up Pato O’Ward of Mexico, who drives for Arrow McLaren SP, collected $1 million — the biggest test a second-place finisher has earned in practically a decade.

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson acquired a $50,000 bonus for being named the race’s rookie of the yr regardless of crashing late within the race. Johnson’s winnings totaled practically $208,000.

The typical payday for every driver was $485,000.

“The Indianapolis 500 is the best race on the earth, and these drivers lay all of it on the road for an opportunity to drink the winner’s milk and kiss the well-known Yard of Bricks,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway proprietor Roger Penske mentioned in an announcement. “This yr’s record-setting purse is reflective of their tireless pursuit of historical past and the world-class expertise they show on each lap.”

Race organizers mentioned the estimated crowd topped 325,000, which they imagine makes it the biggest attended single-day sporting occasion on the earth because the COVID-19 pandemic started.

The IndyCar Sequence returns to motion subsequent weekend in Detroit.