Lundgaard makes the most of every opportunity to take Indy GP victory

Christian Lundgaard made the most of every opportunity presented to him as the Dane took the second IndyCar Series victory of his career on Saturday and the first for Arrow McLaren in 2026.

Starting fourth, Lundgaard and the No. 7 Chevy crew were flawless on race strategy, with pit stops, and on track, where a thrilling pass ripped the lead away from Team Penske’s David Malukas, who finished second in the No. 12 Chevy. Graham Rahal completed the podium in the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

Polesitter Alex Palou led with ease for the first 23 laps, but a misunderstanding by his Chip Ganassi Racing team – who thought there was a full-course caution for Alexander Rossi’s stalled car when it was only a local yellow – led to Palou and Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood stay out while Lundgaard and Malukas pitted.

Once the full-course yellow flew, Palou and Kirkwood stopped, but fell to the back of the field as Malukas took the lead with Lundgaard hot on his heels. The Arrow McLaren driver pulled off a daring pass to take and keep the lead while Palou charged from last to fifth – directly behind Penske’s Josef Newgarden, who was strong all day – while Kirkwood suffered another slow pit stop and settled for ninth.

"Wild. It was a long day out there,” Lundgaard said. “It's just so unfortunate in the beginning at the start of the race. I was so bummed for Pato because I think we had a really good plan for us as a team [for] how we were going to attack the day. Just is so unfortunate for him. Obviously, we had two cars in the top four, which gave us a good chance at least with one car, and how the strategy just happened to play out gave us the best chance. Obviously, the pass on both Graham [Rahal] and [David] Malukas was really the deciders today."

Malukas was surprisingly happy after having a first win in sight but coming up 4.6s short at the checkered flag.

"Well, honestly, it was just a matter of attrition. You know, we knew almost 40 laps before that time was going to come,” he said of the looming threat posed by Lundgaard. “He was just so fast and we were burning push to pass to keep the time up. And, you know, it was, like I said, a matter of time, and then he ended up getting us, and we couldn't even compete. I mean, you saw how we took off at the end there, but overall, it's a fantastic result for us. You know, we went into this weekend thinking we were going to struggle, and here we are on the podium in P2. So it's fantastic!"

Elsewhere, rookie Dennis Hauger benefited from a big opening-lap crash that scattered most of the midfield and allowed the Dale Coyne Racing driver to eventually improve from 24th to eighth. Ganassi’s Scott Dixon was an unwilling participant in that melee and fell to the back of the field; he recovered to take sixth, which initially seemed impossible as he sat motionless with a smashed front wing and bent suspension.

RLL’s Mick Schumacher was on for a strong top 12 result until he got into a tussle with Santino Ferrucci and spun the AJ Foyt Racing driver; Schumacher was ordered to drive through the pits as a penalty for his actions and finished 20th.

The Sonsio Grand Prix got off to a messy start as the back of the field packed up and Rinus VeeKay made contact and broke his front wing. On the run to Turn 1, Palou on the harder primaries was able to hold onto the lead, but behind him, Felix Rosenqvist tapped Pato O’Ward and caused both to spin. Scott Dixon and Caio Collet were also collected in the mess, and other drivers were forced to take avoiding action by driving onto the grass. Full course caution on lap 1.

Lap 3 and the field behind the pace car had Palou leading Malukas, Rahal, Kirkwood, Grosjean, Ferrucci, Lundgaard, Rasmussen, Armstrong and McLaughlin.

The incident was especially advantageous for Ferrucci, who shot from P15 to P6, for Rasmussen who went from P19 to P8, and Armstrong from P20 to P9. O’Ward, who started P2, restarted in P20.

Lap 6 restart and Kirkwood takes P3 from Rahal. Rasmussen went off into the grass and lost all the positions he gained.

Lap 7 and Palou has a 0.8s lead over Malukas at start/finish as Kirkwood takes P2 from Malukas into Turn 1.

Lap 8 and Palou, on the same primes as Kirkwood, pushes the lead out to 1.1s.

Lap 9 and the lead is 1.5s. McLaughlin is ordered to give up three positions for blocking. Rasmussen is forced back to the garage for car repairs.

Lap 10 and Palou has 1.8s on Kirkwood, 2.7s on Malukas, 3.6s on Rahal, 4.9s on Grosjean, and 5.2s on Lundgaard.

Lap 12 and the lead is 2.4s. Almost the entire field is on primaries, with the exception of those who had issues on the first lap and pitted for repairs or inspection and bolted on alts.

Lap 15 and Palou leads by 3.0s.

Lap 18 and Palou leads by 3.9s over Kirkwood, 5.3s over Malukas, and 6.0s over Rahal. Grosjean pits.

Lap 21 and local caution as Alexander Rossi crawls to a stop on the front straight with a failed hybrid.

Lap 23 and full course yellow to retrieve Rossi’s car and at least two large pieces of bodywork that were on the racing surface.

Lap 25 and Palou and Kirkwood pit. It’s unclear why they did not pit sooner. They restart P24 and P25, with Palou on primes and Kirkwood on alts. Malukas restarts P2 behind Will Power, who stayed out.

Lap 27 restart and Lundgaard takes P3 from Rahal.

Lap 28 and full course yellow as Sting Ray Robb spins after locking up and hitting O’Ward, which causes Kyffin Simpson to move in avoidance and hit Rosenqvist, whose car gets airborne. Palou heads to the grass to avoid the incident and gets passed by Kirkwood.

Lap 29 and Power leads Malukas under caution, then Lundgaard, Rahal, Foster, and Newgarden as Grosjean seeks repairs. Kirkwood is up to P14 while Palou is P16.

Lap 31 and Power pits.

Lap 33 restart and Malukas charges away with Lundgaard in tow.

Lap 35 and Kirkwood takes P10 from Ericsson; Palou is P12.

Lap 36 and Kirkwood takes P9 from Dixon. Malukas leads Lundgaard by 1.0s.

Lap 39 and Palou pits to take alts. Kirkwood is up to P7.

Lap 40 and Kirkwood pits for more alts. Terrible stop as the right-front tire changer drops the wheel nut and the stop takes twice as long as it should. Kirkwood emerges in P21. Palou is P19.

Lap 47 and Malukas pits from the lead with 1.7s over Lundgaard, and it’s a slightly slow stop as the fuel probe briefly sticks.

Lap 48 and Lundgaard pits along with Foster. Lundgaard pauses before leaving and misses out on overtaking Malukas.

Lap 53 and Power leads Malukas by 7.8s.

Lap 58 and Power pits. He locks up leaving the pits, crosses the exit line, and is given a drive-through penalty.

Lap 61 and Malukas leads Lundgaard by 1.5s and Rahal by 4.5s, Newgarden by 7.7s, and Palou by 10.6s.

Lap 63 and Palou makes his final stop from P5.

Lap 64 and Malukas leads Lundgaard by 0.8s.

Lap 65 and Lundgaard pits from P2 and Rahal is in from P3.

Lap 66 and Malukas pits from the lead.

Lap 67 and Lundgaard pulls off the pass of the year to wrest P1 from Malukas.

Lap 75 and Lundgaard leads Malukas by 3.0s, Rahal by 5.6s, Newgarden by 8.9s, and Palou by 11.6s.

Lap 85 and Lundgaard secures his second career victory with a masterful performance.

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