Lundgaard Applies His Golf Mindset to INDYCAR
Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
It was a busy month of March for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Since the most recent race at Barber Motorsports Park, drivers and teams have had a chance to catch their breath before this weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and the upcoming month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Coming off a runner-up finish at Barber, Christian Lundgaard, driver of the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, has had some downtime to reflect on the start of the season which has him third in the standings behind reigning and four-time series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood.
For Lungaard, it’s a matter of maintaining the momentum of having two podium finishes to start the year.
“Yeah, I mean, I think we've really just seen the beginning of the season, how momentum really plays an effect, right? We saw the first three races back to back to back. The merge with NASCAR in Phoenix. The new event in Arlington. Having that week off, going to a track that I drove an INDYCAR on for the first time at Barber. Finished second last year and again this year.
“We're going to a track now where we finished third last year in Long Beach. I think from a momentum perspective we're in a good spot. Just excited to go back to Long Beach.
“I think we were missing a little bit of pace throughout the weekend. I think we were good in the race. Need to find some pace for Kirkwood and Palou who really seem to be there on those types of tracks, at least this year.
“Really excited. We have a good stretch of races coming.”
In the meantime, Lundgaard has been spending a lot of time on the golf course.
“I had a full week of golf last week. My girlfriend was playing a tournament in Dallas. I flew out to see her play Monday and Tuesday. Flew home Tuesday night. Left for California Wednesday morning. Got to play golf with [teammate] Nolan [Siegel] on Wednesday, then played Pebble [Beach] on Thursday. Had Friday off, then played again Saturday, Sunday.
“My week off was spent well, let's say (smiling).
“I enjoy it,” Lundgaard continued. “My girlfriend is a collegiate golfer, so it kind of makes sense.
“Definitely a good coach to have on the side. If one day racing falls through, I have a backup plan. I've never had a backup plan in my life, so maybe this is the one.”
James Black/Penske Entertainment
While some might view golfing as a distraction from racing, Lundgaard sees it differently, comparing a round of golf to the INDYCAR season.
“There's 18 holes, there's 18 rounds,” Lundgaard said. “I think like what I enjoy about it is you get out there and you get to be competitive with yourself and push yourself. With the lack of testing that we have, you need to find ways of straying mentally prepared and mentally strong and even find ways to improve.
“I think the more time you spend in the gym kind of dies off in some regard. I think going out there, I enjoy very much going out on a Monday after a race weekend, walking 18 holes, doing some active recovery, and just having fun with it.
“Just to elaborate on the 18 holes versus 18 rounds…I always see it if you make a bogey on the first hole, you shouldn't really panic going into the next hole trying to make up for it. The mindset should always be put yourself in a great position and the putts will fall eventually. I very much see that the same way. I think that's the mindset I have for racing regardless.
“I don't see myself needing to go out and win every race. I need to put myself in a position to fight for the podium and at some point those results will produce themselves. So yeah…”
To expand on that analogy, does Lundgaard’s approach change depending on whether it’s a good hole on the course for him, or a track where he’s had success before?
“I would say it probably changes more on the golf course than it does on a race weekend,” Lundgaard offered. “If there's a drivable par 4, you're more likely to go for it because there is nothing on the line. Probably, if you're in a competitive kind of tournament or outing or whatever it might be, you might think differently about it.
“If I go out there with my friends, potentially some of the other drivers, we're playing, we're just having fun. If you go for it and you don't make it, that's a different story, versus you go to a racetrack you know you're competitive at, you don't necessarily need to try anything in particular, you just need to go and execute.
“I think the game of golf at the end of the day is you need to put yourself in great positions to land the ball where it needs to go. That's very similar to racing. A race weekend is you don't need to turn things upside down, you need to execute with what you have. If that is a 10th-position car, then you need to finish 10th. If it's a race-winning car, you need to win the race.
“I do definitely think it's a great exercise, but I'm sure there's a bunch of golfers that can agree with me. It's a lot easier to stand on the tee box and say I'm going to go for it, but it's not the smartest play.”
Aaron Skillman/Penske Entertainment
If that ’s the case, what Lundgaard’s smartest play heading into this weekend’s race on the streets of Long Beach?
“Not crashing in qualifying would probably be my top priority,” answered Lundgaard, smiling.
“No, I definitely made the weekend very interesting last year with the crash in qualifying, tubbing the car, having to change chassis for Saturday to Sunday, just doing all those checks in warm-up. We didn't really get to go through our program. Obviously still having that result in the race.
“I think the main priority for this year is just have a smooth, successful weekend. Obviously knocking on the door for a good result.
“I don't necessarily think we need to go out there with the mentality of we need to win the race. We need to go out there and improve our package from last year and the results will come.
“We were competitive last year. I still think we were missing a little bit of pace. It's really keeping that consistent and solid mindset of we just need to be there and let it come to us.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.