Christian Lundgaard finished second at the 2025 Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, held at Laguna Seca, marking a significant milestone in the Indycar Series Laguna Seca Race season. Driving the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Lundgaard’s well-executed strategy and racecraft delivered the team its best podium count to date, contributing to what is now Arrow McLaren’s most successful year in the series.
Coming off a challenging weekend, Lundgaard’s tactical approach to tire management, combined with timely pit stops, was central to his ascent through the field, starting seventh on the grid and ultimately securing his eighth career podium. His performance demonstrated not only speed but also calculated risk-taking in a race where uncertainties around tire selection played a pivotal role.
Key Factors Behind Lundgaard’s Podium Finish
Lundgaard emphasized the significance of pit stop sequencing in deciding the race outcome, highlighting the complex tire dynamics at Laguna Seca. Teams faced the dilemma of whether the race would favor primary or alternate tires, which complicated pre-race preparations. Lundgaard explained,
“I knew the pit sequences are really key around here, and we went into this race not knowing if it was going to be a primary or alternate tire race. It ended up being a red race, and I can’t thank this team enough. This is the most podiums we’ve ever had in a year, and I’m very proud of the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet team.”
—Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
His aggressive undercut during the second pit exchange was a defining moment, enabling him to overtake competitor Colton Herta and momentarily challenge race leader Álex Palou. Lundgaard acknowledged the difficulty of managing tire degradation on the latter stints, running used alternate tires that made controlling the car tricky,
“I was just trying to keep it on the track, in all honesty, and stay ahead of Colton.”
Arrow McLaren’s Strong Season Bolstered by Dual Podiums
Alongside Lundgaard, teammate Pato O’Ward delivered a strong fourth-place finish in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, underscoring the team’s growing competitiveness in 2025. O’Ward reflected on the day’s challenges and celebrated the team’s record-breaking podium haul:
“I just didn’t feel like I had the performance today. There were cars giving me a lot of pressure from behind. It felt like we extracted the most out of what we had. Congrats to Christian on the podium, and I’m happy for Arrow McLaren with our most podiums we’ve ever had in a season. There are still three races to go. We’re going to keep pushing, but the 10 car just keeps winning.”
—Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Nolan Siegel, in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, faced a tougher day due to an early puncture that forced an adjusted race strategy. Despite setbacks, Siegel found a personal high point leading laps for the first time in INDYCAR, optimistic about future momentum:
“I led laps for the first time in INDYCAR, but I’m ready for that to translate into a strong result. We had a puncture early on, which shifted our strategy a bit. That set us back, and then we lost some pace later in the race. We’re going to look into what happened there, but I’m confident we can reset and come back strong in Portland.”
—Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Other Notable Performances Across the Field
Callum Ilott in the No. 90 PREMA Racing Chevrolet capitalized on pit strategy and tire management to finish sixth, praising his team’s steady improvement:
“It was a really solid race. We got the strategy right, so the team did an amazing job on that side. Also with the pit stops they have really improved throughout the season and it’s paying off now. We started on the black tires and as soon as the second yellow came out it opened up the pit window and we switched to the reds. I had really good tyre degradation, and I was able to maintain a good pace.”
—Callum Ilott, No. 90 PREMA Racing Chevrolet
Will Power, representing Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet in the No. 12 car, finished seventh and reflected on tire choices that could have improved his race result:
“I think we end up around the top five if we start on the primary tire. That would have allowed us to run reds to the end but also come in under that second yellow flag. If we are able to pit there for the red tires we run with Dixon and Ilott and I think we may have had them on pace. The weekend break comes at a good time for everyone on the Verizon Chevy team because there has been a lot of work going on the last few weeks.”
—Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet
Additional top-ten finishes included Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Liquid Science Chevrolet, 9th), Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet, 10th), and Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, 11th), each balancing competitive pace with strategic execution.
Challenges and Recovery Efforts Among Midfield Racers
Several drivers contended with setbacks during the event. David Malukas of A.J. Foyt Racing Clarience Technologies Chevrolet expressed frustration with his pace, which limited his race to 13th place:
“For some reason we did not have a race car today. We kind of figured that out after first four or five laps, so we knew it was going to be survival till the end. So just praying and holding on and trying to make it out.”
—David Malukas, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing Clarience Technologies Chevrolet
Conor Daly, driving the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, overcame an early gravel trap incident to advance from last on the grid to finish 14th. Daly recounted the initial setback and gradual progress:
“Obviously, we hate getting fired into the gravel and doing donuts in the sand on lap one. I am literally covered in dirt, because we got fired into the gravel by someone else, so that was a shame. But somehow, we managed to get out of the gravel, which was awesome. Eventually, we came from last to 14th.”
—Conor Daly, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Meanwhile, Alexander Rossi in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Java House Chevrolet faced a difficult weekend without finding rhythm, finishing 15th:
“This was a tough weekend all around. We never really found our way. Definitely not what we wanted for a race that Java House is the presenting sponsor of! Everyone did a good job to push through and get everything we could out of it.”
—Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Java House Chevrolet
Race Incidents and Their Impact on Strategy
A notable on-track incident involving Rinus VeeKay resulted in a delayed caution to allow frontrunners to complete their pit stops, a practice debated among drivers. Christian Lundgaard acknowledged the controversial nature but emphasized consistency in the series’ approach:
“I think there are pros and cons to it in a sense. I mean, I was definitely driving around thinking, why is there a car sideways — well, technically backwards going into the corkscrew, and we’re green for two laps? Yes, there’s a local yellow, but if someone isn’t really paying attention, changing a switch on the steering wheel, it can go terribly wrong.”
—Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Insights Into Tire Performance and Race Dynamics
The differences in tire performance, particularly between new and used alternate tires, influenced the strategies and outcomes for several drivers. Colton Herta described how grip levels declined over laps:
“I think the overall grip is similar. Like when you are on the new or the used, when you get like that third or fourth lap peak, it’s a similar feeling. Then those kind of minor twitches or minor snaps, they happen sooner than the new tires.”
—Colton Herta, No. 26 Gainbridge Honda
Lundgaard added technical perspective on tire behavior and car balance issues:
“I think it’s very similar, from my point of view. It’s kind of just an offset, right? They do have a memory, in a sense. If you’ve had an understeery or an oversteery balance the first time you run the tires, that’s kind of the balance you’re going to have the second time you run it. I think all of us were more on the oversteery side, and it’s not necessarily a fun track to have oversteer at.”
—Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Mid-Season Momentum and Championship Challenges
The ongoing 2025 championship battle continues to be dominated by the No. 10 car, driven by Álex Palou, who maintained his winning streak at Laguna Seca. Lundgaard reflected on the frustration of trying to dethrone a consistently commanding competitor:
“I think what’s very interesting with the 10 car is even though they’re having bad weekends, they still come out ahead, right? That’s what’s super frustrating for all of us. Even if he makes a mistake, the team makes a mistake, they make it up somehow, which I feel like we’re all kind of struggling to do in a sense. They’re there every single time.”
—Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Despite a strong start to the season with several podiums, Lundgaard acknowledged the gap remains wide, with Palou’s multiple wins shaping the championship landscape.
Outlook Following the Java House Grand Prix
As the Indycar Series heads into a weekend break before resuming competition in Portland, teams are analyzing the data and lessons from Laguna Seca. Several drivers, including those from the Arrow McLaren and Team Penske contingents, expressed optimism about improving car performance and refining strategies.
Lundgaard sees the recent podium as a foundation to build on:
“It kind of feels like a win for us on the 7 car, but we have to do it every single weekend. That’s what the 10 car is doing, and that’s what we need to do better, but I guess that’s what everybody needs to do better.”
—Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
With three races remaining in the season, Arrow McLaren aims to sustain its momentum and challenge for further podiums, seeking to close the consistent performance gap exhibited by the series leader.