An August race viewed at the end of the season
IndyCar’s retrospective published on 29 October returns to one of Romain Grosjean’s major opportunities: Markham on 16 August 2026. The Frenchman finished second, 7.5305 seconds behind Marcus Ericsson, after a first victory in the category had appeared possible. The finishing margin establishes who won; understanding the closing stages also requires following the stops that prepared them.
Two final stops and two different tasks
The official paddock report records Grosjean’s final stop on lap 53 and Ericsson’s on lap 69. The Dale Coyne driver had to complete a stint of approximately 37 laps while managing fuel and tyres. Engineer Bill Pappas explained at the time that the team had changed its plan after incidents during the opening part of the race. APEX’s reading is that the separation between the stops helps explain the duel, but cannot by itself be converted into a precise calculation of the pace advantage.
| Driver | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Global | 1 |
| Romain Grosjean | Dale Coyne Racing | 2 |
| Will Power | Andretti Global | 3 |
Ericsson made the difference in the closing laps
The pass for the lead came on lap 86 of the scheduled 90. The race report records Ericsson’s recovery among the leaders after his late stop and the victory that ended a 63-race winless run. Honda confirms the different dimensions of the two drives: Grosjean led 28 laps, while Ericsson led 21 and set the fastest lap. The driver leading during a particular phase and the driver with the strongest resources for the finish are not always the same person.
Why the podium carried particular weight
Grosjean’s official profile places the race within a comeback season: after serving as PREMA’s reserve in 2025, he returned to Dale Coyne, the team with which he had made his IndyCar debut in 2021. His final 2026 record is nineteenth with 259 points, one top-five finish and four top-ten results. Markham was therefore an important high point in a difficult campaign, even though the objective of a first win remained unfulfilled.
What the duel shows about strategy
APEX analysis: this case is worth reading through the cost of each option. Extending a stint preserves track position but can restrict the freedom to attack or defend. Stopping later may supply resources for the finish at the price of recovering lost places. The Markham result illustrates that tension without establishing that the same choice would win every race. A complete comparison also needs traffic, neutralisations and the pace available. A missed opportunity does not automatically amount to a driving mistake; here, the official explanations put fuel management and the opponent’s pace at its centre.
