Lundgaard rues minor but costly Keyhole slip

It was a tiny mistake that every IndyCar driver has made at least once at Mid-Ohio’s Turn 3, aka The Keyhole, but the timing of the error and close proximity to teammate Pato O’Ward meant Arrow McLaren pole-sitter Christian Lundgaard surrendered a lead that would not be returned at the Honda Indy 200.

Charging into the uphill corner before turning hard right, Lundgaard momentarily lost control of the rear of his No. 7 Chevy and missed his turn-in point. Running farther into the corner than desired, and after having to slow the car more than he wanted to regain control, the Dane accelerated away with O’Ward on his tail and lost first place by the exit of Turn 5.

One out front, O’Ward was flawless and controlled the rest of the race to earn his first win of the season in the No. 5 Chevy while Lundgaard settled for second.

“It didn't really help that we were quite loose,” Lundgaard said. “We went into the race knowing that – or thinking the balance was going to go towards understeer, and I don't think that was the case as much. I think we overreacted and made the car a lot harder to drive.”

Lundgaard made side-by-side contact with O’Ward before surrendering the lead.

“It was a mistake of my own,” he admitted. “I was struggling so much on entries with the rear. It happened three times before that lap. Then obviously I wanted to be the good sport. I could just easily have run him off the track in [Turn] 4 if I wanted to. Didn't. We fought. We touched. I think that's always good racing.”