Ericsson, who had been leading by three seconds before the red flag came out for Jimmie Johnson’s shunt, employed the usual snaking defensive maneuvers down the straight over the final two lap shootout, and had no problem staving off the AMSP driver’s attack over the penultimate lap.
However, coming off Turn 4, the Mexican youngster had greater momentum and when Ericsson protected the inside, the AMSP driver flicked right to draw alongside on the outside into Turn 1. But Ericsson had eased right in order to get a good line through the turn and wasn’t about to capitulate, and so it was O’Ward who had to back off.
