As Expected, It’s Lundgaard to Ganassi

By Dennis Krause

That former Arrow McLaren Indycar Team driver Christian Lundgaard would essentially be swapping seats with six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon at Chip Ganassi Racing wasn’t surprising. That it took this long to officially confirm, was. Even the team owner admitted as much.

“I apologize that it took so long,” Ganassi said. “It was probably one of the not so well-kept secrets around the paddock the last little bit of time, but I appreciate everybody's professionalism and patience. We were waiting for some other things to have to get announced with all interested parties, so everything is good.

“I'm super excited. When is the last time a guy that finished third in the points was available? That about says it all to me.”

Indeed, even Lundgaard, who posted two wins this season for Arrow McLaren, is still wondering, himself, how he was released by McLaren, only to wind up going to the team that’s won the last several titles.

“It's still a big question mark to me, and I think it is to many. I choose to look at it in a very different way, right? I've done well and a better opportunity arose versus what it could have been. I think this is a conversation that Chip and I have already had. We're just looking forward now. It's not really look back.

“I think I've learned so many things in the past five years, on track, off track, matured a lot from when I joined INDYCAR as -- what was I, a 20, 21 year old, to now having the experience that I have.

“I think it's really just what I've done to achieve this, really, in many ways. I wish them the best, but it's definitely big shoes to fill, filling out for Scott.”

Photo: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment

For his part, Lundgaard admitted the days, and nights, between his release from McLaren to being reasonably confident he’d be winding up at Ganassi weren’t easy.

“A lot of long nights. A lot of long race weekends, in all honesty. Obviously I found out a couple of hours before the media found out back in -- right after Mid-Ohio. I sort of had an idea midway through the season that that was a possibility, and I tried to just keep my head down.

“I know the media likes to talk about the relationship between the teammates there (at McLaren). For me, it was I need to just keep my head down and do the best that I can. I knew there was an opportunity here, and we made it work.

“I think it's been the best for both parties.”

Despite the delay in making everything official, Lundgaard is excited to be joining the team that is now considered the gold standard in INDYCAR.

“Yeah, obviously just seeing Alex (Palou) having performed the way he has in the last six years, having won five championships now, he's been the guy to beat.

“I think the first thought that I had when this came on the table and became an opportunity was I am learning from the best driver who learned from the best driver in Scott Dixon, and I think just getting to learn as much as I can from there. And obviously joining CGR and Chip and the 18 championships, it's really just a dream come true in many ways.

“It's one of those opportunities you never expected to rise, and I'm just super excited to join Chip Ganassi and PNC Bank.”

While it may have seemed like the 25-year-old Dane was the obvious choice to drive the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda in 2027 and beyond, Ganassi did his due diligence before making his decision.

“Yeah, obviously we looked at everybody,” Ganassi stated. “You look at everybody that's available. We obviously looked at everybody that was out there and available. And there were some pretty -- there were some options outside of the series, but maybe the timing didn't quite line up with -- when you have guys that are in other series that aren't done or are in a contract and they can't talk until a certain date or they can't -- they're waiting to hear from their team or something. There are a lot of timing issues that come into play on these type of transactions.

“But Christian's name kept landing back as the obvious one. Like wait a minute, we're not overlooking this guy, are we? Yeah, his name kept -- every name that came along, we said, okay, well, how does that compare with Lundgaard, whether it's somebody who hasn't been in the series, and did they have to learn the tracks, and are they current with this type of drive style that you need, or are they committed to maybe coming to the U.S.

“All these sort of questions you have to ask when people pop up that aren't in the normal week-to-week lexicon of drivers available.”

For Ganassi, it was just as much about how Lundgaard, the person, as well as Lundgaard, the driver, would fit into his organization.

“I'll be honest with you; he'll tell you that in some of our first meetings -- well, not only with Christian, with any driver these days. Drivers that make it to this level of racing, I don't get into talking about the performance or what setup they like or what springs they like or things like that. I don't get into the technical side of things.

“I want to know what they're made of, what their values are. Christian will tell you, I grilled him pretty extensively in terms of what we expect and what we want, what's important and what's not important.

“Yeah, we have a great culture that Mike Hull and his team have built around there, and we try to push that down on other people, whether it's on-track activities or off-track activities.

“Yeah, I'm confident that our system will continue to develop Christian in the same manner.”

After his initial conversations with Ganassi, did Lundgaard feel confident that the opportunity was real and a possibility for his future?

“I would say the answer to that is quite simple. The reason why we're having the conversation in the first place was because there was interest from both parties. You know, I think Chip just kind of landed on it in many ways. Obviously I've always been aware that there is drivers out there. There's options. But it also goes back to when was the last time a third-place championship driver was available.

“I think we both had enough confidence to make it work.”

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.

As Expected, It’s Lundgaard to Ganassi

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