Not long ago, Pato O’Ward was viewed as the promising young talent in Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar lineup. However, over the past few weeks, the 25-year-old Mexican driver has swiftly transitioned into the team’s seasoned veteran, as Arrow McLaren officials surprised the motorsport world with another significant driver signing.
Zak Brown, along with Gavin Ward and Tony Kanaan, announced the multi-year acquisition of Christian Lundgaard from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on Tuesday. This move marks the end of Alexander Rossi’s tenure with the team after just two years.
“Christian has demonstrated his capability with several successful seasons in the series, and he possesses the speed and potential that aligns with our vision alongside Pato and Nolan Siegel,” remarked Arrow McLaren team principal Gavin Ward in a statement on Tuesday regarding the new signing. “This trio forms the youngest group in IndyCar, and we’ve seen the benefits of this strategy with our F1 counterparts featuring Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.”
Currently in his third full-time season with RLL, Lundgaard holds the 11th position in points, with one podium finish (IMS road course) and just two top-10s thus far in 2024. His IndyCar career includes a total of three podiums, highlighted by a victory at Toronto in 2023. Last year, he finished 8th in the championship standings, 15 points ahead of Rossi in 9th.
“I’m thrilled to have my future plans secured for 2025 and beyond, especially with Arrow McLaren,” Lundgaard expressed in a release on Tuesday. “I have tremendous respect for Zak, Gavin, Tony, and the entire team, and I’m confident that Pato, Nolan, and I will complement each other well.”
