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Formula 2 racer and Alpine Formula 1 junior Christian Lundgaard will make his IndyCar race debut with Rahal Letterman Lanigan at this weekend’s Indianapolis road course race.
Lundgaard, 20, tested for the Rahal team on July 26 at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, and will now join the team in a third car – which it is also rumoured to be entering for the last three races of the year next month as well.
“I’m super excited to try Indy Car next week,” said Lundgaard, who will drive alongside the team’s full-season drivers Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato.
“I’ve been very fortunate so far in my career to drive some incredible race cars and I’m looking forward to officially adding IndyCar to that list.
“In preparation for this race, I tested the car and it felt pretty awesome and I’m sure it will feel even better at a race weekend in race conditions alongside all the hugely talented drivers in the field.
“There’s been a lot of work to make this happen and prepare as best as possible and I’m feeling ready for the challenge.
“I’ve actually watched all IndyCar races this year, so to be given the chance to line up on the grid is amazing.
“There will be a lot to learn in a short space of time but trying something new excites me.”
Alpine team boss Davide Brivio underlined that Lundgaard racing in America shouldn’t be taken as a sign that he was on the way out of the F1-focused Alpine junior system.
“Christian remains an important part of the Alpine Academy as he has shown huge promise throughout his junior career,” said Brivio.
“Now, two seasons into FIA Formula 2, we are evaluating different options for the next stage, but for this particular moment we are just focusing on the present; enjoy a different type of car and environment, work hard and deliver on track.”
Lundgaard won two F4 championships in his first year of car racing and then finished second in his maiden Formula Renault Eurocup assault.
He was sixth in F3 in a difficult year for the ART Grand Prix team in 2019, and then finished seventh in a maiden year of Formula 2 the following year.
His sophomore F2 season has been a disappointment with two podiums in 12 races, and he lies 12th in the points standings.
Lundgaard is among a number of Formula 2 drivers looking at IndyCar with few options available in Formula 1 next year.
Ferrari junior Marcus Armstrong was at the Nashville IndyCar race last weekend.
Rahal is a coveted seat and a huge part of IndyCar’s 2022 silly season.
Jack Harvey is rumoured to be signing for the team, while speculation becomes more intense each week that the team’s ex-F1 driver Sato won’t stay on for next year.
With Harvey and Graham Rahal slated for the two existing entries, the team has made no secret of the fact that it wants a third car full-time.
That entry has mostly been driven by Santino Ferrucci in one-off events this year.
He has scored impressive results but cost the team in crash damage.
On July 26 ex-Arrow McLaren SP racer and Indy Lights champion Oliver Askew also tested with the team.
Ex-Red Bull driver and reigning Formula E champion Antonio Felix da Costa tested with the Rahal pre-season but is no longer expected to make an IndyCar switch.
