Arrow McLaren has announced that it is bringing on Christian Lundgaard for the 2025 IndyCar season, replacing Alexander Rossi in the #7 entry.
Lundgaard has been driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing ever since he made his IndyCar debut on the IMS road course in the middle of the 2021 season.
He continued with the team for the past three years, and have given RLL its only win in that time with a victory on the streets of Toronto in 2023.
The Danish driver will make his way to Arrow McLaren next season, where he will pair with Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel.
“I’m excited to have my plans set for 2025 and beyond, and I’m thrilled it’s with Arrow McLaren,” said Lundgaard.
“I have a lot of respect for Zak [Brown], Gavin [Ward], Tony [Kanaan] and the team, and I think Pato [O’Ward], Nolan [Siegel] and I will work well together.
“I’m focused 100% 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.”
The announcement is the latest in a series of driver changes for Arrow McLaren over the past few months, and means that O’Ward will continue to be the most tenured driver at the squad, having driven the #5 entry since 2020.
Rossi drove for the team for the past two seasons, but the results were not what either side had hoped for. The 2016 Indy 500 winner has only earned two podiums over the past two seasons, and has failed to break into the top 5 of the points standings.
Rossi did not announce where he will be driving next season, but his statement seemed to indicate that the ending of his relationship with Arrow McLaren was mutual.
“My time at Arrow McLaren, while it’s been only short two seasons, has been rewarding in many ways,” said Rossi. “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.”
Rossi and Lundgaard will each finish out the season at their current teams, beginning with the race this weekend at Mid-Ohio.
