After Palou and Ericsson qualified third and fourth respectively – Ericsson’s best grid position of the year – the pair had retained those positions from the start, despite the Swede’s sidepod and right-rear receiving a nuzzle from Pato O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren SP-Chevrolet on Lap 1, Turn 1.
Following the long run down to Turn 5 on Lap 4, Palou appeared to brake slightly early in response to being so close behind the second-placed car of Josef Newgarden, while also choosing to take the fastest racing line to the 90-degree left-hander. That left the inside line open to Ericsson who braked later, and filled the hole. Ericsson ran only slightly deeper on exit than leader Alexander Rossi and Newgarden, but Palou turned in toward the apex, his left-front wheel made contact with his teammate’s right rear, and so he broke a toelink.
