Christian Lundgaard established himself as a high front-runner within the IndyCar Sequence in his first yr driving for Arrow McLaren. After three seasons with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, the place he collected three podiums – together with one win – the Dane went on to attain six podiums and completed fifth within the championship, representing the strongest season but for the No. 7 automobile since McLaren joined the sequence.
It was a marketing campaign that started with a scorching begin, as Lundgaard scored three podiums within the first 4 races, placing him second within the standings, simply behind the dominant Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi’s No. 10 automobile.
Though his outcomes dipped in the midst of the season, Lundgaard insists on this unique interview with Motorsport.com that his first yr with Arrow McLaren was a hit, explaining how each expertise – together with the struggles – will assist him and his crew lay the groundwork for a championship run in 2026.
“A profitable season”
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen by way of Getty Photographs
For those who needed to sum up your 2025 season with Arrow McLaren in only one phrase, which phrase would you select — and why?
Christian Lundgaard: I might most likely go along with profitable, I’d say. You realize, on the finish of the day, we strategy this season desirous to be taught, desirous to be aggressive, however to be aggressive from the get-go. We did not need it essentially to be a studying yr in that sense. And I feel we did that, proper? We had been aggressive from the get-go and we had many nice outcomes. We had six podiums. I feel that was most likely essentially the most that the #7 automobile has had in its lifetime with Arrow McLaren. So, I might name {that a} profitable season. Sure, we missed out on the finish in championship standings, however I feel wanting on the season from a chicken’s view, we had been positively taking a look at it as profitable.
What has stunned you most about Arrow McLaren as a crew now that you simply’ve accomplished a full season with them?
Christian Lundgaard: I feel that is a reasonably good query as a result of, you understand, each racing crew operates in the identical method, primarily, proper? It is get the vehicles to the observe and get essentially the most velocity out of them and make them as quick as potential. However I feel there’s other ways to try this. And I feel what I’ve discovered and what I’ve seen essentially the most of with Arrow McLaren is, it is so simple as how organized they’re as a crew, how well-glued the personnel is, and I feel how all people has the identical purpose. And I feel there is a huge distinction between, you understand, wanting the identical factor and believing the identical factor. And I feel we’re way more in believing the identical factor class right here. And I feel that is simply been a really nice expertise for me to be part of.
Early highs, mid-season struggles
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
How a lot of the advance you confirmed this season got here from becoming a member of this crew, and the way a lot was merely your individual progress in your fourth full IndyCar season?
Christian Lundgaard: That is an ideal query that I do not essentially know the reply to. I feel all of us evolve, proper? All of us enhance; all of us get higher. I positively do imagine that, you understand, that the vehicles are naturally sooner. And I feel general I’ve improved. I feel the crew’s improved in comparison with final yr. And I feel we have seen that at chosen occasions the place Arrow McLaren struggled in 2024. We positively acquired higher leads to 2025. And if I’ll simply decide two, I’d say, you understand, Thermal and Portland had been most likely considered one of our two greatest turnarounds from ’24. I am extraordinarily happy and proud to have been part of that journey, of that change and getting the outcomes as a crew. And I feel going into the 2026 season, I am fairly certain we will do this even higher.
You began the season very strongly, with three podiums in 4 races. Had been you stunned to search out your self within the combine for the title at that stage?
Christian Lundgaard: I feel, in the end, I’d say I used to be just a little extra stunned, you understand, being within the place to combat for the championship than what I anticipated. However I feel there’s, once more, it form of goes again to what you imagine, proper? And the mindset you might have. And I feel I do know I’m aggressive and quick sufficient to be in that place. However I feel in the end, it is all of the items of the puzzle that want to suit collectively. And I feel that the crew that I am with, with Arrow McLaren and the No. 7 automobile, I feel we’re an excellent group. And I feel we acquired the most effective out of one another. And I feel we constructed an ideal basis for ’26. I would not say I approached the ’25 season considering, ‘hey, we’ll be within the title rivalry’. Clearly, it is the hope. It is not what I anticipated. And I’d say there have been occasions all year long the place I used to be like ‘this does look fairly good’. However I feel if we take the No. 10 automobile out of consideration and we simply assume second and downwards, I positively assume we had an opportunity. After all, for it to slide away is unlucky. However on the finish of the day, that wasn’t essentially my purpose anyway for 2025. It was to construct that basis and be as aggressive as potential and never essentially caring a lot concerning the consequence.
From that very sturdy begin, there have been 5 races with out a podium. Do you assume that hunch was a part of the method — serving to you and the crew develop earlier than recovering later within the season?
Christian Lundgaard: Yeah, you understand, that is my sincere opinion. And I do know we have talked just a little bit about this throughout the No. 7 crew. It was a really robust time for us in a way. And I am very glad that we went via it for one motive solely: I feel we discovered extra having gone via that have than simply, you understand, hitting the gate scorching. We form of began the season very properly. And I feel that form of got here just a little out of left subject for all of us. And I feel it isn’t that we had been uncomfortable in that scenario. I feel we’re really very snug as a result of that is the place we imagine that we should always and have to be, proper?. I feel there have been form of some expectation administration points in a way I feel that we might have finished higher. And that form of center a part of the season was robust and it was irritating. However I feel how we recovered within the second half of the season is admittedly the showcase of, you understand, we’re not going to again down. We will maintain enhancing. And I feel that was simply one of the simplest ways we might actually finish the season in a way, as a result of we confirmed as a bunch that we had been able to bouncing again from adversary, and form of that psychological wrestle of getting out of momentum.
Cracking the ovals problem
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
Throughout that interval, you additionally had your greatest private efficiency on the Indy 500, beginning eighth and ending seventh. How would you consider your expertise at Indianapolis this yr?
Christian Lundgaard: I discovered so much. I feel clearly, you understand, from the previous three years of oval expertise, I positively felt like I wanted to take a step again and form of rewind and be taught every little thing from scratch in a way, form of rebuild. And I feel we constructed up so much all through the season on ovals. I feel we noticed Milwaukee, Nashville simply being way more aggressive, way more snug in that sense. And clearly, the Indy 500 was the primary race of the season on an oval. And it is the most important, an important one, which was robust, you understand, form of to begin at. However I feel taking step-by-step and taking every little thing in, studying from this crew, clearly having Kyle (Larson) because the fourth automobile as properly. I discovered so much from Kyle, simply that form of ruthlessness of simply going on the market and doing it. We had an ideal month with ups and downs. I feel we primarily ought to and will have had just a little extra of a consequence. However, you understand, I do not actually wish to take a look at it that method. I simply wish to take a look at it, ‘hey, we discovered and I feel we have constructed one thing nice for the longer term’.
Earlier than this season, you had been very clear about your want to enhance on ovals. How troublesome is it to take that subsequent step on such tight margins? The place do you’re feeling you continue to want to enhance — is it your driving type, confidence, or a mix of things?
Christian Lundgaard: I do assume it is a combo of issues. It is not so simple as, you understand, simply flicking a light-weight change, proper? It is a sequence of occasions. It is a piece of a puzzle that, you understand, all of the items have to form of match collectively. On the finish of the day, I want it was so simple as flipping a change and simply say, ‘hey, now it is time’. However I do assume the mentality is a really huge a part of it, you understand, form of simply understanding that simply exit and do it in a way and be okay with no matter outcomes it’s. I feel the second half of the season, we constructed nice momentum in these conditions. And I feel I discovered so much, simply turned extra snug with exploring extra versus simply form of driving round and taking one step ahead. I feel we began transferring at just a little sooner tempo.
You already talked about working with Kyle Larson throughout the Month of Might. What did you study oval racing from being Pato O’Ward’s teammate, given how sturdy he’s on ovals in IndyCar?
Christian Lundgaard: Yeah, I imply, on ovals, Pato is a special animal. It is a very fascinating driving type, however it works for him. And, you understand, that is, I feel that is the great thing about this sport. All people is completely different, regardless that that we’re human beings. We deal with every little thing in a different way. And Pato might be the most effective oval racer within the subject. You realize, possibly not statistically, however I feel from a tempo, from a dealing with and understanding standpoint, he is by far among the best. It is a good teammate to have and a great individual to be taught from. However what’s very troublesome is now we have very, very completely different driving kinds.
That is what makes it very robust. I feel, you understand, Kyle is in just a little little bit of a special boat there as properly, in comparison with me. And I feel Nolan (Siegel) and I are just a little extra comparable, doubtlessly just a little extra conventional. So I feel there’s so much to be taught from that. And I feel that can be part of why we have accelerated and discovered extra and gotten higher on the No. 7 automobile.
Constructing towards a 2026 title problem
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
You’ve been very sturdy on highway programs this yr. Do you see mastering the ovals as the important thing to mounting a title hunt in ’26?
Christian Lundgaard: Completely. I feel if I’ve the identical outcomes on ovals as I’ve had on highway programs, I feel we’ll be proper there and we’ll have a great combating probability. However on the finish of the day, you understand, I feel that is the purpose, however I am additionally going to take it the identical method and strategy it the identical method I strategy the ’25 season: I do not care what the result’s so long as we’re aggressive. And I feel that is the power of the psychological sport. I am not anticipating to exit and win each oval race. I am not anticipating to exit and be on the rostrum in each oval race. But when we’re knocking on the door -fourth, fifth places-, if we’re there each time, we’ll have an opportunity profitable the championship anyway. So I feel that is an important.
Having completed fifth in ’25, simply shy of third, the subsequent step can be to contend for the championship. Do you see it that method for subsequent yr, or is it too quickly, being solely your second season with the crew?
Christian Lundgaard: I am going into my fifth full season, proper? And I have been round racing lengthy sufficient, you understand, to know once you’re able to do something. And I feel, you understand, even this yr, I feel we had been able to win the championship. The No.10 automobile clearly had a tremendous yr, proper? And I do not assume anybody might take that away from that No. 10 automobile. However I feel taking a look at the most effective of the remaining, you understand, we had been there. And I feel there have been some outcomes that had been thrown away and a few very helpful factors that I feel we gave away by the fault of our personal, and with out these, we positively might have fought for even second within the championship. However once more, we’d like the No. 10 automobile to not have one other season such as you did this yr.
This has been your greatest IndyCar season by far, however was it irritating to complete the yr with out a win, or do you see it as a part of the method heading into ’26?
Christian Lundgaard: Nicely, you understand, I actually did not actually give it some thought in any respect. There have been questions that I used to be being requested all year long. ‘Is that this going to be the weekend?’ ‘Is that this going to be the time?’ If I will be sincere, I feel all people in your entire subject was annoyed with out a win, you understand, very far into the season as a result of the No. 10 automobile acquired all of them. And the way in which that I see that’s each time the No. 10 automobile principally received a race, it was the No. 5 of the No. 7 automobile proper behind. I feel that’s sufficient proof for me saying that it is coming, proper? And if it comes this yr, if it comes subsequent yr, you understand, I might somewhat wish to not have one this yr and have 5 subsequent yr, proper? I feel that is how I see it. We had been knocking on the door each single occasion. And clearly, you understand, all of the podiums that we had, we had been doubtlessly the most effective automobile. We had been by far the most effective automobile at Portland. The engine penalty is what sort of took that one away. I left that weekend, you understand, telling myself that I received that race, regardless that that on paper, it reveals that I used to be P2, the factors is for P2. However I actually imagine that that was, you understand, I informed myself that was the win. As a result of that is the job that we did and we did every little thing to deserve that win. And clearly, it was taken a form of taken away by out of our management. I feel that is how it’s important to take a look at it versus, you understand, being annoyed. It is you should see the positives and the issues that you simply’re doing.
The Tony Kanaan impact and offseason plans
Tony Kanaan, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
How has it been having Tony Kanaan as crew boss? You beforehand labored with a legend like Bobby Rahal at RLL. How has your expertise been with TK this yr, maybe benefiting from his nearer age and up to date driving expertise?
Christian Lundgaard: Tony’s nice. I did not get to expertise Arrow McLaren because it was, proper? Very briefly after I joined the crew, adjustments had been made and Tony was put in cost. And I feel Tony was a giant a part of me coming to the crew anyway. Having labored very shut with Tony, that is additionally one on my to-do listing for this offseason, is attempt to spend a while with Tony, you understand, exterior of the form of racing world for us to take issues to a special stage and actually make it possible for we’re on the identical web page for 2026 and what we wish and what our mindsets are.
Nevertheless it’s been nice. Each query I’ve had, he is had a solution. Do not get me improper. He is positively requested me loads of questions I haven’t got solutions to. However I feel, you understand, that is the great thing about having him within the crew and having him as a mentor in a way. And I simply love the truth that, you understand, he is an ex-driver now able to manage the crew, management the drivers. However on the finish of the day, he understands what we’d like. And now he sees that from a company standpoint of view. And he is helped us so much, you understand, staying in it. And I feel that is the most important benefactor I’ve taken from ’25.
With the offseason approaching, what are your plans? Will there be numerous golf to maintain your aggressive facet sharp, and the way a lot time will you spend fascinated about the way to beat Alex Palou?
Christian Lundgaard: Yeah, the second after I began waking up within the morning and the primary face I see is Alex Palou, that is after I know that, you understand, he is kicked all people’s ass. However I imply, yeah, for certain, there shall be loads of golf concerned. It helps. The girlfriend is a collegiate golfer. She retains my competitiveness excessive, you understand, realizing how good she is. It form of simply drives me to, you understand, desirous to be higher. And I feel that is, you understand, an superior form of factor to have on the facet, proper? It retains me within the mindset. You realize, typically it is also essential to modify off. However I feel in the end it is I might somewhat wish to keep within the States for longer and make it possible for I’m getting ready myself very best versus, you understand, doing every little thing half and touring forwards and backwards. However after all, I wish to go dwelling and see household as properly.
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