Photo credit: www.motorsport.com
During the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, Christian Lundgaard faced a critical setback that nearly derailed Arrow McLaren’s ambition for a podium finish.
Yet, thanks to strategic planning and exceptional teamwork, the driver turned things around, ultimately clinching a third-place finish. Lundgaard was quick to highlight the contributions of his team in this achievement.
“This one’s dedicated to the crew,” Lundgaard stated after the race. “Thank you to everyone on the No. 7 Velo Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.”
Reflecting on the previous day’s challenges, Lundgaard acknowledged the efforts required to get back on track. “(They) had to rebuild the car after my crash in qualifying yesterday. This is for them. It’s for Jon Edwards, who we lost recently, and who was close to Kyle Larson, who will be joining us in May. This one’s for the entire Arrow McLaren team.”
The Aftermath of Qualifying Drama
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
During the Fast 12 session of qualifying, Lundgaard encountered trouble that not only set him back but also affected his teammates, Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel. The mishap caused him to crash into a tire barrier, eliminating his chances to place among the top six and preventing his team from capitalizing on their quick laps.
Starting from 12th on the demanding street circuit, Lundgaard’s team made the bold decision to begin the race on the primary tire—a choice that distinguished him from many competitors who opted for the softer alternative tire.
This gamble proved effective. By stretching his first stint to lap 27 while his competitors made early pit stops, Lundgaard enjoyed several laps in clean air. He switched to soft tires at his first pit stop, continuing until lap 39 before rejoining the race on the preferred tire strategy used by the rest of the field.
As this strategy unfolded, Lundgaard rose to third place after his pit stop. Although he was soon overtaken by Felix Rosenqvist, his earlier maneuvering from 12th to fourth set the stage for a potential podium finish.
With five laps remaining, Lundgaard made his final pit stop at the end of lap 60 and quickly set his sights on catching Rosenqvist for third place. Lundgaard’s determination paid off as he made a bold overtaking maneuver into turn 1, securing the podium finish for his team.
Interestingly, a moment of forgetfulness helped Lundgaard’s performance. “On Lap 42, I noticed I had 109 seconds of overtake left,” he shared. “Then, I forgot to use it, which may have actually helped at the end.”
Lundgaard expressed pride in delivering a strong outcome for his team, acknowledging their hard work leading into race day. With the early stages of the championship underway, his performance places him in a competitive position. Although Alex Palou has made waves with two wins and a second-place finish, Lundgaard now finds himself in third place, trailing closely behind Kyle Kirkwood and Rosenqvist. Notably, he is the highest-ranked Arrow McLaren driver and the top Chevrolet competitor as the season progresses.
This result marks a significant rebound for Lundgaard’s team after a challenging weekend in Long Beach, coupled with a commitment from Lundgaard to reward his crew. “I told them I’d buy a couple of beers when we get home next week, but I think giving them a trophy is a nice touch as well,” he remarked.
Source
www.motorsport.com