Christian Lundgaard, the Arrow McLaren driver, is intensifying his efforts to challenge Alex Palou‘s dominance in the 2025 IndyCar season at events like the WWT Raceway. Driving the #7 Chevrolet-powered car, the 23-year-old Danish racer has expressed confidence and determination in overcoming Palou’s stronghold on the championship.
Speaking on the Speed Freaks podcast, Lundgaard reflected on the ongoing competition between Chevrolet-powered cars and Palou’s #10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, highlighting the incredible performance of his rival while emphasizing the strength of Chevy’s vehicles this year.
Lundgaard’s Perspective on the Chevy Versus Palou Rivalry
Lundgaard believes Chevrolet cars have been performing better than results might suggest, indicating they should have secured a victory at the Indianapolis 500 this season. He acknowledged Palou and his team’s excellence that keeps the #10 car ahead.
“I think the Chevy cars have been a lot stronger than what the results really show. I definitely think that the Chevy car should have won the 500 this year. Obviously, we’re all in this situation of Why does this guy keep winning, right? And how do they do it? At the end of the day, you gotta give them kudos. They’re doing an incredible job on that 10 car,” he said (0:17 onwards).
He went on to describe the championship battle as largely a showdown between the Chevrolet cars, including his #7 and the #5, against Palou’s #10 vehicle. Lundgaard remarked on the repeated pattern of Palou beating the Chevy field despite several fast Chevy contenders throughout the season.
“But I think that again proves the point that, you know, the 5 car, the 7 car, and a bunch of other Chevys have been really fast throughout the season, and we’ve been right there, but every single time, it’s the 10 car beating all of us, right? So it kind of feels like sometimes it’s Chevy VS just the 10 car. And that’s what messed up about the whole situation is, you know, I just feel like it’s become everybody against the 10 car,” he added.
Recent Race Showdowns Between Lundgaard and Palou
At the Thermal Club Grand Prix on March 23, Lundgaard went head-to-head with Palou after qualifying in second place, just ahead of Palou’s third. However, during the closing laps of the race, Palou managed to overtake and secure his second victory of the season, while Lundgaard finished third.
Lundgaard’s earlier performances in the season also demonstrate competitiveness, with a fifth-place qualifying and eighth-place finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg on March 2. He improved his position at the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on May 4, moving from seventh on the grid to finish on the podium in second place.
Lundgaard’s Confidence in Closing the Gap to Palou
Despite trailing Alex Palou by 106 points in the drivers’ championship, Lundgaard remains optimistic about his chances of winning the IndyCar title. He spoke with Motorsports.com about focusing on his own race and staying patient, noting that Palou’s team won’t consistently dominate every race weekend.
“They’re going to have bad weekends. They can’t win every weekend. I know that’s what it looks like right now. But at the end of the day, we need to focus on what we can control. After that, I’m pretty confident that we can be in the mix at the end of the year, and that’s all we can hope for.”
Currently holding fourth place in the standings with 205 points, Lundgaard is determined to maintain focus and pressure as the season unfolds, hoping to capitalize on any setbacks Palou’s Chip Ganassi team might face.
The Growing Chevrolet Challenge in the 2025 IndyCar Campaign
Lundgaard’s statements highlight a broader theme in the 2025 IndyCar season, underscoring how Chevrolet continues to push against Chip Ganassi Racing’s success. The season so far has framed much of the narrative as a battle between the strong Chevy field, including cars #5 and #7, and Palou’s consistently winning #10 team.
As the races progress, input from drivers like Lundgaard provides insight into the strategic challenges and competitive intensity defining the championship fight. While Palou’s dominance remains clear, Chevrolet’s persistent performance and Lundgaard’s focus suggest the season could tighten as teams continue to battle on track.
With more race weekends ahead, the 2025 IndyCar title fight is poised to remain deeply contested, with Christian Lundgaard aiming to close the gap and turn the tide in favor of Chevrolet.
