Alex Palou won last weekend’s IndyCar race from The Thermal Club, completing back to back victories and starting the 2025 season off with a perfect record.
It was an ominous start for the rest of the field, who have watched Palou all but dominate the series on his way to winning three championships in the past four years.
Christian Lundgaard was one of the drivers with a real shot to stand on the top step of the podium on Sunday, with his #7 Arrow McLaren Chevy sitting near the top of the timesheets all weekend.
But an all-too-familiar performance by the Spaniard meant that Lundgaard had to settle for a lower step on the podium.
“I think overall looking across the three [Arrow McLaren] cars, we’re more competitive,” said Lundgaard after the race. “Leaving with two podiums, a first and second in qualifying, I think we can be very happy with the weekend.
“I knew I lost that fight [against Palou]. He was out on the sticker set of alternates at the end of the race. I was on a sticker set of primes. I knew he was going to have the advantage.
“I knew Pato [O’Ward] was five seconds up the road, so I tried to make him lose as much time fairly as possible. We had some fun, but it didn’t really seem to bother him.
“We just didn’t have it there. We gave it a shot and came up short. It’s tough seeing this guy beat us every single event. We’ve got to find a way to stop him.”
Lundgaard put up a valiant fight against Palou late in the race, doubling back multiple times and keeping his car alongside Palou’s for the better part of half a lap.
But it was not meant to be, and Lundgaard now sits fourth place in the points after two rounds, 42 points adrift of the reigning champion.
