The Swedish indycar driver won last weekend after an eventful race where he started as the 18th driver, crashed early, but still managed to end up at the top of the podium.
When the Indycar circus continued in Indianapolis on Saturday, it was not as chaotic for Ericsson, who started as the eleventh driver.
However, the 30-year-old had difficulty climbing in the field.
Towards the end it was tight and Ericsson, who was long ten, fought mainly to try to get past last year's second overall Josef Newgarden.
He could not do that.
But thanks to Takuma Sato losing control in a duel with Newgarden, both Ericsson and Newgarden were able to get past.
Ericsson finished ninth, and describes the race as difficult and that he did not have enough speed this time.
"But if we finish ninth on our bad days, then it's probably something good," he wrote on Twitter.
The starting field's second Swede, Felix Rosenqvist, finished in thirteenth place.
Water made Will Power, his 40th victory in the Indicar context.
Four races remain in the calendar.
The next competition is already next weekend, before there will be a three-week break.