Christian Lundgaard's courtship started earlier than the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing star entered the ultimate yr of his contract.
Which NTT IndyCar Sequence groups have been ?
“All of them,” Lundgaard stated with a smile hours earlier than the primary observe of the 2024 season. “All of them. Clearly there's curiosity, however on the identical time I'm right here to work with the staff. My confidence is within the staff. We’ve got unfinished enterprise at many circuits and at many occasions, so I belief the staff.”
The collection will maintain its first exhibition occasion on the Southern California desert observe.
His staff must imagine they will persuade Lundgaard to remain in his solely dwelling in IndyCar.
As soon as on his strategy to Components 1 as a two-time winner in F2, Lundgaard modified careers three years in the past and loved a memorable IndyCar debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by qualifying fourth and ending twelfth on the legendary highway course.
After gained the 2022 IndyCar Rookie of the 12 monthsHe loved a breakout season final yr along with his first profession win and eighth place in factors.
This put Dane within the crosshairs of among the powerhouse groups within the IndyCar driver market that could possibly be supercharged unveiling Pato O'Ward's new multi-million greenback extension.
Graham Rahal stated there is a chance for Lundgaard to “chase the greenback payments, and that's his alternative,” however Rahal additionally lists many causes apart from money why his teammate would re-sign with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
“We're by no means going to be the very best paid within the collection,” Graham Rahal stated. “However the good factor for Christian going ahead is that I gained't be right here lengthy. So (the staff) is unquestionably designed to be constructed round him greater than perhaps most.
“The man has to make his personal selections. I can’t interact in it. However I additionally don't suppose he’ll discover a place that’s extra appropriate and constructed round him, but in addition with a greater sponsor. After I take a look at issues, I take a look at 15 years from now, the place will you be? And , Hy-Vee has been an incredible accomplice, and that ought to carry plenty of weight.”
RLL moved Hy-Vee, who grew to become the title sponsor of the staff and the collection, to the No. 45 Dallara-Honda final season, a transparent signal that Lundgaard is taken into account for the longer term.
He confirmed this once more with a pole win in Toronto (his second of two poles), with a season common of 10.5.
Nonetheless, these outcomes got here virtually completely on highway and avenue programs.
Lundgaard stated “the most important disappointment was clearly the ovals,” the place he managed only one top-15 end in 5 begins (thirteenth within the second race at Iowa Speedway).
“That's the place we have to enhance probably the most and that's the place I wish to see probably the most enchancment,” stated Lundgaard, 22. “So it's going to be an attention-grabbing season, however proper now my focus is the place it must be.”
Meaning there isn’t any rapid time-frame for his subsequent contract to be signed, though Lundgaard was tight-lipped about specifics.
“I feel the backstage conversations have to remain behind the scenes as a result of that's between us,” he stated. “However on the identical time, I feel every little thing finally is determined by the outcomes. That's what we're right here for; we’re right here to win. We're not simply right here to compete, however they're already displaying me enchancment.”
Christian Lundgaard wrapped up the 2022 NTT IndyCar Sequence Rookie of the 12 months title with a powerful fifth within the season finale at Laguna Seca.
Though a flat tire on lap 1 contributed to a Twentieth-place end within the opening spherical of St. Petersburg, Lundgaard was inspired by his pace within the pre-season check at Sebring final month.
He enters this weekend on the Thermal Membership $1 Million Problem with confidence in being among the many quickest within the 2003 check on the 17-turn, 3.0 miles on the highway. And one other robust efficiency might spur rival groups' progress.
Not like many offers which have an exclusivity interval with the incumbent staff, Lundgaard stated he can negotiate calmly throughout the paddock.
“However on the identical time, I'm not desirous about upsetting anyone or creating any drama,” he stated. “I'm right here to give attention to what I’ve to do and know that every little thing will fall into place when it must.
And whereas Lundgaard admitted that “everybody has an opportunity” to signal him, he hinted that he would like RLL.
“Clearly they’ve first alternative,” he stated. “It's the place I’m. They’re the individuals who gave me the chance to enter IndyCar. So after all I wish to present them that appreciation as effectively.
“If we enhance the efficiency on the oval, I don't suppose there are lots of different groups which are higher to be in as a result of I feel they’ve the potential off the observe as a corporation to enhance and be one of many absolute high groups.”
