Christian Lundgaard, the Arrow McLaren driver, shared his thoughts on the unexpected turn of events during the Mid-Ohio race on July 6, where Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou made a rare error. Lundgaard’s reaction highlights the surprise within the IndyCar community surrounding Palou’s mistake, which allowed teammate Scott Dixon to claim victory.
During the race at Mid-Ohio, Palou lost control at Turn 9, going wide and surrendering the lead to Dixon, who ultimately won the event. Lundgaard, piloting the #7 Chevrolet-powered Arrow McLaren, observed Palou’s uncharacteristic error with keen interest following the race.
Lundgaard Reflects on Palou’s Unusual Error at Mid-Ohio
In a post-race interview, Christian Lundgaard acknowledged how uncommon it is to see Alex Palou, often dubbed ‘Mr. Perfect’, falter during a race. Speaking to ASAP Sports, Lundgaard noted the rarity of such mistakes amid a day that overall went well for the drivers.
“Yeah, we saw Mr. Perfect here make a mistake. You don’t see that very often. I think the day was pretty good. Alex seemed to have a little bit more pace than we did.”
— Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren driver
Although Palou finished second after starting from the same position, his lap average speed of 111.130 mph underscored his competitive pace. This podium was his third of the season, following a third-place finish at the Thermal Club Grand Prix, marking his first top-three result of the year in 2025.
Lundgaard’s own performance this season has been steady, with a fifth-place qualification and eighth-place finish at the season-opening St. Petersburg Grand Prix on March 2. At the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in mid-June, Lundgaard started and finished in 14th place, reflecting a consistent, if challenging, campaign so far.
Insights from Lundgaard on the IndyCar Season and Palou’s Dominance
Beyond the Mid-Ohio race, Lundgaard offered his perspective on competing against Palou during an appearance on the Speed Freaks podcast. He emphasized the dominance of Palou’s #10 car and the strength of the Chevrolet-powered vehicles this season, suggesting the competition remains intense but centered around the exceptional performance of Palou’s team.
“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.”
— Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren driver
“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.
— Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren driver
Currently, Lundgaard holds fifth place in the IndyCar drivers‘ championship standings with 263 points, underlining his competitive positioning despite Palou’s dominance.
What Lundgaard’s Reaction Means for the Season Ahead
Lundgaard’s comments highlight the intensity and focus within the field as drivers and teams seek to challenge Palou’s exceptional consistency. His acknowledgement of the strong Chevrolet performance indicates a competitive edge for Arrow McLaren and others powered by the same manufacturer. With Palou continuing to set a high bar, the battle at the front remains fierce and should shape the narrative for the remainder of the 2025 IndyCar season.
