Four years after Marcus Ericsson made Swedish motorsport history in the Indy 500, it was time again.
This time it was Felix Rosenqvist who stepped forward as a Swedish hero.
The margin of victory? An astonishing two hundredths of a second. The smallest margin of victory in the history of the race, according to the AP news agency.
"I don't know what to say. What a car! Big thanks to my team," says Rosenqvist.
Rosenqvist started from fourth on the grid while Ericsson had a significantly longer way to go from 17th position.
And for Rosenqvist, the race unfolded perfectly.
Chaos race
With 20 laps left, the Swede, along with Pato O'Ward, looked like they would be the two to fight for victory.
But the drama was far from over.
With Rosenqvist in the lead, a red flag came out with eight laps to go after an incident further back in the field. The cars were forced into the pits - and suddenly the conditions changed.
Rosenqvist was then on significantly older tires than many in the chasing field.
Another restart
When the safety car left the track with five laps remaining, Rosenqvist dropped to third place before another yellow flag interrupted the race again. Everything would then be decided in a final restart - with just one lap remaining.
And there the Swede showed composure.
Rosenqvist regained the lead in the closing stages, securing his first Indy 500 triumph. Behind him, David Malukas crossed the finish line just two hundredths of a second later after leading the race following the first restart.
“Wish they were here”
There was a noticeably emotional Swede during the victory interview.
"I really miss my wife and my newborn baby. I really wish they were here. My sister is here so I get to celebrate with her," he says, continuing:
I still can't believe it. To be a father and win this. In such a short time, it's unreal.
For Marcus Ericsson, the day ended in 13th place.
Previously, only two Swedes had won the legendary competition: Kenny Bräck in 1999 and Ericsson in 2022. He has now joined the exclusive Swedish winners' circle in Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis 500, often shortened to Indy 500, is one of the truly classic racing events and is part of the so-called "Triple Crown" of motorsport, the other races being the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix. Briton Graham Hill is the only one to have won all three.
The name comes from the fact that the race measures 500 miles, almost 805 kilometers. This corresponds to 200 laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, USA.
Three Swedes have won the race throughout history. Kenny Bräck was the first in 1999, Marcus Ericsson the second in 2022 and Felix Rosenqvist matched the feat in 2026.
