Ericsson signs multi-year contract to return to Ganassi

Marcus Ericsson signed a multi-year IndyCar deal Wednesday to return to Chip Ganassi Racing.

Ganassi on Sunday celebrated his 20th overall championship in 30 seasons of competition across various motorsports series. Scott Dixon won his sixth IndyCar title in the season finale.

Attention then turned to completing the remainder of the Ganassi lineup, which will include Ericsson and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. Felix Rosenqvist is not returning to a fourth IndyCar entry but could be replaced by Spanish rookie Alex Palou in 2021.

Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, prepares to drive before practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

Ericsson will be back for a second season in the No. 8 Honda. In his first year with the team, the Swede finished 12th in the IndyCar standings.

Ericsson spent five years in Formula One with a total of 97 starts before moving to IndyCar in 2019.

“I want to thank Chip and the whole CGR organization for their trust in me,” Ericsson said. “Chip Ganassi Racing is one of the best teams in motorsports and I’m proud to be part of the team. The season we’ve just finished has been full of potential and I feel confident that with what we’ve learned together this year will help us succeed in 2021.”

Marcus Ericsson (8) leads Felix Rosenqvist (10) during the IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, in Madison, Ill. (AP PhotoJeff Roberson)

Mike Hull, managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing, credited Ericsson with contributing to the organization's success this season.

“That includes being unselfish to his teammates, especially with Scott Dixon who won the IndyCar championship,” Hull said. "He’s a great foundational piece of our overall program and he fits well within our group. That translates into success on the track, and we’re glad to have him continue to grow and move the team toward into the future.”

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PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic included three NHL goaltenders in its squad for the Cortina Milan Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

They were Lukas Dostal of the Anaheim Ducks, Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth and Daniel Vladar of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas, Boston Bruins right winger David Pastrnak and Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl were among 12 NHL players on the team which is missing Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil, who has not recovered from concussion.

Pastrnak teammate Pavel Zacha, Ondrej Palat of the New Jersey Devils and Radek Faksa of the Dallas Stars were other forwards in the squad.

Only two defensemen play in the NHL — Radim Gudas from Anaheim and Filip Hronek from Vancouver — showing a decline in Czech players in North America in recent years.

Nineteen of the 25-man squad helped the Czechs win the world championship two years ago in Prague.

The Czechs open the Olympic tournament against Canada on Feb. 12. France and Switzerland are also in Group A.

AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Colorado Avalanche's Martin Necas watches the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)