Lundgaard Shines Amid Palou’s Dominance in Early 2025 IndyCar Season
Barber Motorsports Park, AL — Christian Lundgaard’s strong start as an Arrow McLaren driver has positioned him as one of the standout performers in the 2025 IndyCar season, despite Alex Palou’s continued winning streak. Following an eighth-place finish in the season opener at St. Pete, Lundgaard has reached the podium in every race since, securing second-place finishes at the Thermal Club and Long Beach, and again last Sunday at Barber.
Lundgaard’s path to success was complicated this past weekend by technical challenges. A balance issue during Friday’s practice session hampered his performance, resulting in a seventh-place qualifying spot. However, the team focused on adjusting the setup of Lundgaard’s #7 car. "I’ve been fighting the same balance problem all weekend," Lundgaard stated, detailing the difficulties faced during practice. "We didn’t get to try some things we wanted to try."
Despite these setbacks, Lundgaard delivered an impressive performance, executing a race-high 16 passes and declaring a crucial setup change as a "biggest game changer" in his career, though he chose not to reveal specifics about the adjustment.
As the season progresses, Lundgaard’s results place him second in the championship standings, though he trails Palou by 60 points heading into the next race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "It’s just about focusing on yourself," Lundgaard remarked, acknowledging Palou’s strong performance but emphasizing his commitment to continuous improvement. "We’re trying to raise our own bar and we’re getting better."
Transitioning from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to Arrow McLaren, Lundgaard has noted a significant improvement with his average finish now at 4.7—up from 12.2 during his previous tenure. "The car is purely faster than what I’ve been doing for the last three years," he said, underscoring the advantages of his new team.
As Lundgaard continues to adapt to his new environment, he remains focused on executing strategies that enhance performance. "At the end of the day, that’s how you compete for championships," he concluded, demonstrating a clear and determined mindset as he aims for further podiums in the upcoming races.
