Arrow McLaren announced July 2 that its 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver lineup is confirmed with the addition of Christian Lundgaard, who will join Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel in the team’s three-car lineup following the close of this season.
Lundgaard, who is 11th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings this season for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, will drive the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The team is mutually parting ways with Alexander Rossi, who is in his second season with the team and finished ninth in the championship in 2023.
“I’m excited to have my plans set for 2025 and beyond, and I’m thrilled it’s with Arrow McLaren,” Lundgaard said. “I have a lot of respect for Zak (Brown), Gavin (Ward), Tony (Kanaan) and the team, and I think Pato, Nolan and I will work well together.
“I’m focused 100 percent on finishing this season strong with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. We have a lot of the season left, but this is a huge weight off my shoulders that will hopefully let me compete at my best the next nine races.”
Danish driver Lundgaard has enjoyed a strong start to his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career since joining the series full time in 2022, earning a win in July 2023 at Toronto, two poles and three podium finishes. He made an immediate splash as the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, where he has raced for his first three seasons in the series.
Before launching a professional career in North America, Lundgaard was an Alpine development racer competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where he earned two wins and nine podiums across the 2020-21 seasons. He also raced with Alpine in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship and produced a win, two podiums and two poles.
Lundgaard, 22, will join O’Ward, 25, and Siegel, 19, as the youth movement continues at Arrow McLaren.
“Christian has had proven success in his few seasons racing in the series, and he checks the boxes for what we’re looking for in speed and potential alongside Pato and Nolan,” Arrow McLaren Team Principal Gavin Ward said. “The three make up the youngest trio on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid, and we know that direction has been paying off for our F1 counterparts with Lando (Norris) and Oscar (Piastri). We’re looking toward our long-term goal of sustained high performance, and I believe with these three drivers and the ongoing support of Arrow and all our amazing partners, we’re taking a good step in that direction for 2025.”
Lundgaard’s hiring will end the two-year tenure of 2016 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Rossi. He has two third-place finishes as his best results with Arrow McLaren, which he joined after the 2022 season.
“My time at Arrow McLaren, while it’s been only short two seasons, has been rewarding in many ways,” Rossi said. “I’m grateful to have been part of the team’s internal growth. The No. 7 crew is fantastic, and I’ve built a lot of long-lasting friendships with the team.
“Zak, Gavin, Tony and I had many conversations over the last several months on my future with the team. We were not able to come to terms on a new deal, so the mutual decision to part ways is amicable. I’m very confident with current discussions in the paddock to land a new spot. I’ll have good news to follow soon, and meanwhile I’m focused on a top-five finish in the 2024 championship and a strong conclusion to my time in papaya.”
Said Ward: “Alexander has been an incredible teammate, and we’re grateful for our two seasons we’re racing with him. We wouldn’t be where we are today without him. Ultimately, we couldn’t meet in the middle on terms, but we absolutely wish him the best and will do all we can the second half of the season to get him in the top five in the championship.”