Lundgaard Pulls Off Statement Win at Indy

Christian Lundgaard celebrates his Sonsio Grand Prix victory, snapping a 47-race drought at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish).

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – If you ask any driver in the paddock they will tell you that no matter which race you win, Indy is always special.

It was extra special for Christian Lundgaard when he battled fiercely in a drama-filled 85 Lap race to capture his second NTT IndyCar Series victory by 4.6713 seconds over David Malukas in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. This is Lundgaard’s first series victory with Arrow McLaren, all while snapping a 47-race winless drought that dates back to July 2023 in Toronto when he claimed victory while driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

“Very happy,” said Lundgaard. “I really didn’t expect this today. I hoped for it. This was a long wait for this win, especially around this place. You know how fast I’ve always been around here, and it’s just been time after time after time disappointments. Now we’re here.”

Graham Rahal matched his season-best finish by rounding out the podium in third place in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda. Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden drove to a solid fourth place finish in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet while NTT P1 Award winner Alex Palou, who was the clear favorite to claim another victory on the season after dominating both preceding practice sessions, finished in the fifth position in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Graham Rahal speeding down Hulman Blvd. in route to his second podium of the season in the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish).

Lundgaard’s day began earlier in the day when he qualified his No. 7 Velo Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in the fourth position on the 2.439-mile road course. Lundgaard settled into a rhythm as he maintained steady pace with the front-runners, after mayhem ensued in a first corner, Lap 1 incident involving Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Scott Dixon in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 SiriusXM MSR Honda, and Caio Collet in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet.

The Turn 1 pandemonium allowed Malukas to leapfrog his way from fifth to second as varying pit strategies ensued during that yellow flag period. Once the race went back to green, second-place championship contender Kyle Kirkwood waiting no time to attack and bypassed Malukas for second as he began to chase down championship leader, Palou.

Drama, chaos, and varying pit strategies was the theme of the day, that made the 13^th running of the Sonsio Grand Prix anything but mundane.

Lap 22 was a point in the race when the theatricals continued when the No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet driven by Alexander Rossi came to a stop near the flag stand on the main straightaway due to a hybrid system failure. Only problem was that the series threw a local yellow that allowed the race to continue, while leaving Rossi waiting in limbo. A frustrated Rossi waved to officials with his steering wheel removed to signal that he is unable to continue the race. Finally, to get the officials attention, Rossi exits his No. 20 Chevrolet during racing conditions to force a full course yellow flag.

“The fact that it took that long to throw a full-course yellow when a car’s on the front straight and people are going by at 170 mph also seems insane when they don’t let us drive in the wet yesterday (Friday for qualifying session),” said Rossi. “So, I don’t really know where the priorities lie.”

After pitting on Lap 65 for the final time a lap prior to Malukas, the two ensued a fierce battle for the lead on Lap 68 as they went toe-to-toe through Turns 3 and 4, before Lundgaard muscled his way through the Turn 5-6 chicane leading onto the Hulman Blvd backstretch.

“We were very strong in those middle stints, and then toward the end, we maybe made the wrong decision on wing (adjustments) there,” said Malukas. “WE were just falling apart. I was doing everything I can just to survive, and Rahal was coming from behind.”

“But either way, that is a fantastic result.”

Marcus Ericsson dejected after a mechanical issue during his Lap-61 pit stop that ended his race early in the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish).

Pit lane was a troublesome spot for a couple of teams as Kirkwood’s chances of victory slipped away on Lap 39 when a slow right-font wheel change resulted in a 15.2 second stop. Marcus Ericsson was forced to retire on Lap 61 due to a mechanical failure while trying to exit his pit box, resulting in his second-straight DNF (Did Not Finish) due to mechanical issues.

At the end of the day, Palou does not extend his two-race winning streak, but extended his points lead to a 27-point cushion over Kirkwood as the series heads into a week of practice starting on Tuesday, May 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 110^th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Race Results: