Christian Lundgaard believes the next month could be pivotal in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship battle.

Lundgaard enters the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CRV Hybrid on July 5 fourth in points, 77 behind championship leader Alex Palou. While that deficit remains significant, this stretch of the schedule could provide an opportunity to close the gap.

Beginning with last Sunday's XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR, the series enters a four-race stretch featuring three natural road courses. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Portland International Raceway (Aug. 9) join Road America, with Nashville Superspeedway (July 19) serving as the lone oval in this span.

Lundgaard has been nearly unbeatable on natural road courses this season.

Take Road America as an example. Lundgaard had to pit after contact with Scott Dixon on the opening lap, dropping him to last among the 25-car field. He charged to victory, his second of the season and second consecutive win on a natural road course following his triumph in the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 9 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit.

Christian Lundgaard

Lundgaard also finished second at Barber Motorsports Park, giving him three consecutive top-two finishes on natural road courses this season. Dating to last year, Lundgaard has finished on the podium in six straight races on permanent road courses.

Could that consistency make him Palou's biggest challenger?

Kyle Kirkwood, who sits ahead of Lundgaard in the standings, remains winless in 30 INDYCAR SERIES starts on natural road courses and has just one series oval victory in 26 starts, coming last year at World Wide Technology Raceway. David Malukas is second in points but searching for his first series victory after 71 starts. He’s been runner-up five times, including three this season.

In both of Lundgaard’s wins this season, Palou started on the pole and finished fifth while Malukas finished second. Kirkwood finished ninth and 10th, respectively.

"It really depends on the drivers we're fighting in the championship and how their weekends evolve," Lundgaard said on if he can be second in points after this stretch. "We know the 10 car (Alex Palou) is going to be strong no matter where he shows up. The wild cards are Pato (O'Ward), Kirkwood and Malukas."

Palou has remained the benchmark despite some missed opportunities. He has won five consecutive NTT P1 Awards dating to the Sonsio Grand Prix, yet has only one victory during that span. Pit-road mistakes and strategy setbacks have prevented him from building an even larger championship lead.

Still, Lundgaard believes Arrow McLaren has the pace to challenge on road courses and cut that deficit while two inaugural street races in Markham (Aug. 16) and Washington, D.C. (Aug. 23) follow this stretch.

"On road courses, we're probably the best car," Lundgaard said. "Street courses can be a little bit of a lottery. The 10 car has been able to execute and get results, and the Andretti cars have been extremely strong. We also have two new tracks coming up. At that point, it's fair game for everyone."

If there is an area where Lundgaard can still improve, it is on ovals. Yet Palou hasn’t been strong this season on circle tracks, either.

Palou owns two oval victories in his career, both coming last season, including the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. But this year his average finish on ovals is 16th. Lundgaard's average finish on ovals this season is 13.3.

There also are signs Lundgaard is becoming more competitive on ovals. He finished sixth at Iowa Speedway and the Milwaukee Mile last season. This year, he placed 13th at Phoenix Raceway, 17th in the Indianapolis 500 and 10th at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“I think everything is going according to how I thought it would,” Lundgaard said. “I feel like I've evolved a little bit.

“I’m here to try to improve myself every weekend, every day, every year. I think we found something in St. Louis, which will help moving forward. I'm only optimistic and happy for the rest of the year.”

Mid-Ohio presents another opportunity.

Lundgaard started second and finished third there last season. Palou, meanwhile, owns four consecutive top-two finishes at the track, including a victory in 2023.

The championship contenders appear headed for another showdown.

“I'm not worried going to Mid-Ohio,” Lundgaard said. “We were extremely fast there last year. I think we can make something happen.”