Ericsson survived a day that began with a red flag on Lap 1, as nearly a half-dozen cars crashed out in an incident that began with Ericsson's Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon. The six-time champ and Felix Rosenqvist tapped wheels between Turns 2 and 3, eventually slowing Rosenqvist and sending him into the wall.
The race's pivotal moment came on Lap 72 as McLaughlin pulled out of pitlane on cold tires just a car length ahead of Grosjean, who had pitted the lap before. McLaughlin admitted after the race that he made a mistake by not backing out as the pair neared Turn 4. He did manage to continue, but Grosjean's day was done.