Christian Lundgaard has been announced as the replacement for Alexander Rossi next season in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevy. After unsuccessful negotiations for a contract extension, Rossi and the team have made the amicable decision to part ways at the end of the current season.
This move completes Arrow McLaren’s recent efforts to revamp their NTT IndyCar Series lineup and provides Lundgaard, a young Danish driver, with an opportunity to compete for greater success in one of IndyCar’s top teams.
Rossi’s two-year tenure with Arrow McLaren will come to an end. He joined the team from Andretti Global in 2023 and has achieved two podium finishes in the No. 7 car. Currently, Rossi is in seventh place in the Drivers’ championship, just behind his teammate Pato O’Ward.
With the addition of 22-year-old Lundgaard from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Arrow McLaren’s driver lineup for 2025 will be the youngest in IndyCar, consisting of O’Ward (25), Lundgaard (who will turn 23 later this month), and Nolan Siegel (who will turn 20 in November).
Lundgaard has been pursuing the opportunity to join a front-running team for over a year through his agent. While at RLL, Lundgaard has achieved one win, two poles, and three podium finishes since joining the team full-time in 2022. However, he hasn’t had the chance to consistently fight for victories, leading him to explore other options. Arrow McLaren’s acquisition of Lundgaard comes at a time when the team is looking to improve its overall performance.
Arrow McLaren’s last victory occurred almost two years ago, with O’Ward winning at Iowa on July 24, 2022. This lack of success has motivated the team to reconfigure its lineup and aim to regain its winning form with multiple drivers. Since joining the team in 2020, only O’Ward has achieved victories for Arrow McLaren. With Lundgaard now on board, the expectation is for the No. 7 Chevy to join O’Ward’s No. 5 Chevy in the winner’s circle.
The No. 7 car, driven by various drivers such as Mikhail Aleshin, James Jakes, Marcus Ericsson, Oliver Askew, Felix Rosenqvist, and Rossi, has achieved multiple second-place finishes but hasn’t won a race since its debut in 2014.
For Rossi, leaving Arrow McLaren poses the challenge of finding a team that can offer him the same level of competitiveness. With no known openings at Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, or his former team Andretti, Rossi’s options may be limited to midfield teams aspiring to compete with the top teams on a regular basis.
RLL could be a suitable option for Rossi, as well as Meyer Shank Racing, which is having a strong season. Ed Carpenter Racing, A.J. Foyt Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, and the incoming PREMA Racing team could also be potential destinations for the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner.
RLL will now need to find a replacement for Lundgaard and has several interesting candidates to consider, including current employee and reserve driver Juri Vips, free agent Rinus VeeKay, former Arrow McLaren drivers Theo Pourchaire and Callum Ilott, and current MSR stand-in David Malukas.
After Arrow McLaren confirmed the news, Lundgaard’s soon-to-be former team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, released a statement expressing their gratitude for his contributions and wishing him success in the future.
