{"id":59506,"date":"2026-07-05T09:16:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T14:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=59506"},"modified":"2026-07-05T09:22:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T14:22:21","slug":"lundgaard-raises-his-free-agent-stock-with-pole-winning-run-at-mid-ohio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/05\/lundgaard-raises-his-free-agent-stock-with-pole-winning-run-at-mid-ohio\/","title":{"rendered":"Lundgaard raises his free-agent stock with pole-winning run at Mid-Ohio"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Christian Lundgaard – Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio – By: Chris Owens<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Courtesy of the NTT IndyCar Series<\/em><\/p>\n

LEXINGTON, Ohio – Christian Lundgaard has delivered another statement about his \u201cworthiness\u201d as a top-tier NTT IndyCar Series driver.<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago Lundgaard _ soon become a free-agent _ won on Road America\u2019s daunting natural-terrain layout despite falling to last place after a first-lap contact incident. Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lundgaard emerged as the No. 1 qualifier for Sunday\u2019s The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid.<\/p>\n

Lundgaard led an Arrow McLaren sweep of the front row, edging teammate Pato O\u2019Ward for the fourth NTT P1 Award of his career and first since 2023 when he won the Toronto street race. Last year at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, Lundgaard secured P1 in qualifying, but had to serve a six-grid starting position penalty for an unapproved engine change.<\/p>\n

SEE:<\/strong> Qualifying Results<\/a><\/p>\n

The combination of the above has the native of Denmark, who will turn 25 on July 23, brimming with optimism even as his future remains unsettled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everybody knows the abilities,\u201d Lundgaard said during an interview on FOX after posting the pace-setting lap of 1-minute, 4.8396-seconds\/125.368 mph around the 2.258-mile\/13-turn layout in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. \u201cI don\u2019t need to say any more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lundgaard will be aiming for his third road-course victory of the season during Sunday\u2019s 90-lap\/203.22-mile main event (12:30 p.m. EDT, FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). He also won the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course in May and finished second in the Children\u2019s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix presented by AMR at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., in March.<\/p>\n

Lundgaard is one of three drivers still with a reasonable chance of catching four-time\/reigning series champion Alex Palou of Spain in the standings. Palou leads Team Penske\u2019s David Malukas by 60 points, and Andretti Global\u2019s Kyle Kirkwood by 61 points. Lundgaard trails Palou by 77 points. No other driver is within 100 points of the Chip Ganassi Racing ace.<\/p>\n

The goal Sunday for Lundgaard is to capitalize on his latest opportunity. \u201cWe\u2019ve got two wins now and we\u2019re going to carry that momentum,\u201d Lundgaard said. \u201cIt\u2019s just awesome to have a 1-2 (for the team in qualifying). We\u2019ve got to go finish the job and that\u2019s the most important.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Ward\u2019s lap of 1:04.8649-seconds\/125.319 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet earned a front-row start for the second time this season. O\u2019Ward also held that position for the Detroit street race.<\/p>\n

“I’ve got to thank the guys and gals at Arrow McLaren and Team Chevy,\u201d said O\u2019Ward, a 27-year-old native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio, Texas. \u201cThat’s a great Fast Six for them as well. Congrats to Christian on the pole. Good to be running out and on the front row heading into Turn 1. It’s a pretty good view. I’ve been happy with my car all weekend, and we’ve got a good one to make it happen tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

The performances of Lundgaard and O’Ward weren’t the only noteworthy developments in a qualifying session delayed nearly three hours by thunderstorms. Palou’s streak of five consecutive NTT P1 Awards ended when he qualified eighth in the No. 10 Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.<\/p>\n

Palou’s best lap of 1:04.865-seconds was fourth-fastest of the qualifying session, but it came in the opening round. He was unable to improve in the second round, leaving him eighth on the starting grid. His streak of five consecutive poles is tied for the fourth-longest in series history with Mario Andretti (1984) and Danny Sullivan (1988).<\/p>\n

Still, Palou can build on his hefty series point-lead in the season\u2019s 11th race. The 28-year-old Spaniard has finished in the top-two each of the past four years _ a win in 2023 and three second-place results.<\/p>\n

Joining the Arrow McLaren drivers as Firestone Fast Six qualifiers were Andretti Global\u2019s Will Power of Australia (No. 26 TWG AI Honda), Malukas (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet), Ed Carpenter Racing\u2019s Christian Rasmussen of Denmark (No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet) and Juncos Hollinger Racing\u2019s Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands (No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet). Rasmussen reached the final round of knockout qualifying for the first time this season, while VeeKay gave JHR its fourth career top-six starting position.<\/p>\n

Team Chevy placed five drivers in the top-six. Power was the lone Honda-powered driver in that group.<\/p>\n

Rookie Caio Collet of Brazil led the two-car contingent from Waller, Texas-based A.J. Foyt Racing in 11th<\/sup> in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom where we were this morning, a good improvement,\u201d said Collet, whose best lap was 1:05.1228-seconds\/124.823 mph. \u201cVery, very close, just a tenth (of a second) away from the Firestone Fast Six. I think we could have done a little bit better there, with maybe executing a little bit better in the last run in the Fast 12. Overall, very happy with how we progressed from this morning, and I think we have very good pace for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Foyt teammate Santino Ferrucci of Dallas placed 22nd<\/sup> in the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, this weekend we have not been competitive at all,\u201d said Ferrucci, whose best lap was 1:05.2387-seconds\/124.601 mph. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working very diligently to close the gap and to be honest and we did kind of just that. We\u2019ve just been struggling to find a change in the car that will give us some reaction. But what it came down to in qualifying is we were on the wrong side of one-tenth of a second, which is about the rate you blink your eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, it’s just a bit of a bummer so because instead of starting in the Fast 12, we start 22nd<\/sup> _ that\u2019s just how close it is. We\u2019re gonna have to drive through the field and see what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon has won a record seven INDYCAR races at this track, including 2014 when he drove from the 22nd<\/sup>\/last starting position. If Dixon is to win Sunday in his final Mid-Ohio race with Chip Ganassi Racing, the native New Zealander must do so after starting 23rd. Dixon, driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, was penalized for interference with Dale Coyne Racing\u2019s Romain Grosjean\u2019s No. 18 BMax Honda approaching Turn 5 in the first round of qualifying.<\/p>\n

In another bit of irony, Dixon is widely rumored to be replacing Lundgaard at Arrow McLaren at the conclusion of the 2026 season in September.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Salvador de Alba, Jack Beeton, Enzo Fittipaldi and Tymek Kucharczyk – Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio – INDY NXT Presented by Firestone – Photo by Matt Fraver<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pole-sitter Enzo Fittipaldi completed a dominant Saturday <\/strong>at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, leading all 35 laps to earn his third career INDY NXT by Firestone victory and cap an historic day for HMD Motorsports.<\/p>\n

Driving the No. 67 HMD Motorsports entry, Fittipaldi controlled three restarts before pulling away to victory while helping HMD Motorsports record the first 1-2-3-4 finish in series history. Rookie Tymek Kucharczyk of Poland finished second, 1.9003-seconds behind, followed by rookie Jack Beeton of Australia and Salvador de Alba of Mexico.<\/p>\n

SEE<\/strong>: Race 1 Results<\/a><\/p>\n

The last team to sweep a podium was Andretti Global at The Milwaukee Mile last season. HMD Motorsports last finished 1-2-3 in 2024 at Barber Motorsports Park, with Christian Rasmussen of Denmark leading Nolan Siegel and Toby Sowery of Great Britain.<\/p>\n

Australian Lochie Hughes completed the top-five on a hot and humid Ohio afternoon in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry. The race featured 133 on-track passes, including 124 for position. Both were series records for the 2.258-mile\/13-turn natural-terrain layout.<\/p>\n

Fittipaldi is the 24-year-old grandson of two-time Formula One World Driving Champion, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 1989 INDYCAR champ Emerson Fittipaldi of Brazil. Enzo added another family milestone at Mid-Ohio, as Emerson won three INDYCAR races at the facility.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was absolutely amazing,\u201d said Fittipaldi, a native of Miami. \u201cWe had a great drive out there. Just super-happy. The car was really quick and it’s a 1-2-3-4 for HMD _ that’s absolutely amazing. So happy for them; they deserve it. They\u2019re honestly an amazing team to work with and just super-happy about the race today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fittipaldi’s biggest test came after the final restart on Lap 25 following J.M. Correa’s trip into the Turn 12 tire barriers four laps earlier. Fittipaldi quickly opened a comfortable advantage, remaining unbeaten this weekend after leading Friday’s practice and earning both poles in track-record fashion.<\/p>\n

The first caution flew on Lap 5 when 17-year-old Nicolas Stati of Australia stalled exiting Turn 2. On the Lap 8 restart, Kucharczyk charged from fourth to second, where he remained to earn his seventh podium in 11 starts this season and second consecutive runner-up result.<\/p>\n

Beeton earned his career-best finish with third after previously placing fourth in Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. De Alba recorded his best finish of the season in fourth.<\/p>\n

The race’s only other caution flew on Lap 12 when Nolan Allaer of Detroit stalled the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing entry in Turn 6.<\/p>\n

Championship leader Nikita Johnson entered the race with a 26-point lead over Fittipaldi but finished seventh in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR entry. Combined with Kucharczyk’s runner-up finish, the result reshuffled the championship standings.<\/p>\n

Kucharczyk now leads the standings by seven points over Fittipaldi and eight over Johnson entering Sunday’s 30-lap\/67.74-miles\/50-minute Race 2. It marks the first time this season Kucharczyk has led the championship and first time since after the May 31 street race in Detroit that Johnson has not occupied the top spot. Fittipaldi was the championship leader after Detroit.<\/p>\n

Fittipaldi will have an opportunity to complete the weekend sweep in Race 2 at 10 a.m. (EDT) Sunday (FS1, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Courtesy of the NTT IndyCar Series LEXINGTON, Ohio – Christian Lundgaard has delivered another statement about his \u201cworthiness\u201d as a top-tier NTT IndyCar Series driver. Two weeks ago Lundgaard _ soon become a free-agent _ won on Road America\u2019s daunting natural-terrain layout despite falling to last place after a first-lap contact incident. Saturday at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":59510,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[22,319,672],"class_list":["post-59506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indycar","tag-indycar","tag-mid-ohio","tag-ntt-indycar-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Christian-Lundgaard-Honda-Indy-200-at-Mid-Ohio-By_-Chris-Owens_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m159709.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-ftM","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59506"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59514,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59506\/revisions\/59514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}