LEXINGTON, OH – Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar driver lineup will formally be totally different in 2027. A supply informed IndyStar that the group notified Christian Lundgaard — who has a group possibility for subsequent yr — that he is free to barter with different groups, regardless of his contract’s unique negotiating window not having expired. It has additionally let its different pending free agent, Nolan Siegel, know that he will not be again subsequent yr.
Regardless of Lundgaard misspseaking Friday and saying that he isn’t allowed to talk with different groups, Arrow McLaren group principal Tony Kanaan gave Lundgaard a letter this week releasing him and his administration to barter elsewhere. Lundgaard cannot signal a contract with one other group till Arrow McLaren formally declines the group possibility, which is anticipated within the coming days.
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Lundgaard is at the moment fourth within the IndyCar standings with two wins and 4 podiums by way of 10 races this season. The Danish driver received IndyCar’s Grand Prix at Highway America, and is on the pole for Sunday’s Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Lundgaard’s run with the group will finish after two years, as he positioned fifth in IndyCar’s championship in 2025 regardless of not profitable a race. Lundgaard, who turns 25 in 18 days, drove for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing from 2021 to 2024.
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Christian Lundgaard at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Christian Lundgaard at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Caio Collet at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Marcus Armstrong at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Graham Rahal at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Romain Grosjean at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Josef Newgarden at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Kyffin Simpson at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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David Malukas at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Rinus VeeKay at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Kyle Kirkwood at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Drivers compete at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Scott Dixon at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Alex Palou at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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Felix Rosenqvist at Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in July 2026.
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With rumors swirling that Arrow McLaren may signal Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist to affix forces with Pato O’Ward — who’s beginning Sunday’s race beside Lundgaard on the entrance row — the group has made it official that two new drivers might be O’Ward’s teammates in 2027.
Siegel is in his third season with Arrow McLaren after becoming a member of the group to drive its No. 6 automotive in the midst of the 2024 season, which noticed three drivers pilot the No. 6 entry. Kanaan made it public earlier than the season that if Siegel — who’s twenty first within the standings — did not end within the prime 10, he would seemingly be on his method out.
Now, Lundgaard and Siegel know their destiny, though Lundgaard has not formally been informed he will not be again. Lundgaard needs to be one of many hottest names in the marketplace, with Dixon’s seat at Chip Ganassi Racing open, Rosenqvist’s seat at Meyer Shank Racing open and uncertainty round Marcus Ericsson’s seat at Andretti International.
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Arrow McLaren is in the hunt for an Indy 500 championship and IndyCar championship, two trophies it hasn’t been in a position to win since McLaren purchased a stake within the group in 2020 earlier than gaining full possession in 2024. Kanaan and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown have determined that Lundgaard and Siegel aren’t the drivers to get them over that hump, and now neither driver is anticipated to put on papaya subsequent yr.
Hypothesis of a serious shakeup had been brewing for weeks, and it seems the group has determined to shift its full-time driver lineup, which has been the identical for the previous two seasons.
