Lundgaard takes fight for second into final three races of IndyCar's 2026 campaign

Credit: Hope Van Beek

Christian Lundgaard strengthened his bid for second place in the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series championship with a runner-up finish in the Freedom 250, capping off an impressive first visit to the American capital.

The Arrow McLaren driver finished second behind Kyle Kirkwood after spending the closing stages attempting to cut into the American’s advantage. Lundgaard found brief periods where he held the upper hand, although Kirkwood’s pace across the longer run proved enough to keep him out of reach. The result gave Lundgaard another strong points haul with three races remaining and kept his attention on the fight behind championship leader Álex Palou.

“Yeah, I feel like I had just a couple of laps where I was faster than him, and then I know the 12 laps where he was faster than me,” Lundgaard said when asked about trying to catch Kirkwood.

“Obviously the race was long. I think we got a better result than we expected. We got three more races to go. I think I'm just happy to see Álex not win for once.”

Lundgaard’s second place reflected a weekend where the result exceeded his expectations. Kirkwood controlled much of the race, leading 128 laps, while Lundgaard remained in the fight behind him and maximised an afternoon where several championship rivals encountered trouble.

Palou’s failure to win also gave those behind him a rare opportunity to make ground. Lundgaard entered the weekend fourth in the standings while Kirkwood sat second, placing added importance on every position as the championship approaches the season finale.

“Obviously Kyle and I were second and fourth in the championship going into this weekend. Álex and David had some unfortunate luck out there,” Lundgaard said. “But those are the days that we need to not have for the rest of the season. I'm definitely pushing for that second. Kyle made that a little tougher for me today.”

The second place finish therefore carried more weight than another trophy. Palou retains a dominant position at the top, leaving the battle for second as a realistic target for Lundgaard during the closing weeks of the campaign. Kirkwood’s victory strengthened his own position, meaning Lundgaard left Washington D.C. knowing his job had become harder rather than easier.

Still, Lundgaard found plenty to enjoy about the outcome. His comments after the race showed a driver aware of the wider championship picture but willing to appreciate a result which, by his own admission, was stronger than anticipated.

“I think we got a better result than we expected,” he said. “We got three more races to go. I think I'm just happy to see Álex not win for once. I hear you all laughing, so you agree with me, which is great.”

Beyond the championship implications, the weekend represented something new for IndyCar. Racing in Washington D.C. placed the series against one of its most recognisable backdrops and created an event which felt different from a conventional race weekend.

Lundgaard was struck by the setting throughout the event. After spending the weekend surrounded by the sights of the American capital, he described the location as the best backdrop he had experienced at a racetrack, and viewed the event as another indication of IndyCar’s recent growth.

“Yeah, what an experience all weekend. The best background I've ever had on a racetrack obviously,” Lundgaard said. “Just being a part of it, seeing where the series is going, being a part of it.”

That enthusiasm continued when he was asked whether IndyCar should return. Lundgaard offered an immediate “Absolutely”, making his position clear after experiencing the circuit for the first time.

Credit: Bella Rosen

The size of the occasion became clearest before the race, when the drivers took part in the traditional pre-race parade. Lundgaard and Power spoke with each other from the back of the truck as they took in the surroundings, wit both drawing comparisons to IndyCar’s biggest weekend of the year.

“It's actually funny, we were in the back of the truck and we were talking about it. I feel like this is a good contender to the Indy 500,” Lundgaard said. “I think overall this is just a testament to where the series is going. I think Milwaukee to some extent is going to feel a little boring next week. Just so different. Obviously it's a different type of track, it's a different event. Nothing's like DC. But I think we did very well for the first time.”

The race itself provided a physical challenge, with its length becoming a major talking point before Sunday. Drivers faced a long afternoon around a street circuit where bumps, walls and limited margins for error demanded concentration from start to finish.

For Lundgaard, the length was noticeable, although the challenge went beyond the number of laps. The circuit contained several sections where bumps arrived under braking or while the cars travelled straight, creating a different problem from the rough cornering surfaces found at some other street venues.

“I mean, it still is bumpy. Still is bumpy,” Lundgaard said when discussing the circuit after the race. “A big bump in Turn 4. I feel like most of the bumps are either when you're going straight or in the brake zones. It's not so much really in the apex, except Turn 4, which is also the slowest corner on the track.”

IndyCar’s lack of power steering adds another physical element on street circuits, particularly when the steering wheel reacts sharply over bumps. When fellow podium-sitter Will Power suggested power steering would have been welcome, Lundgaard had little sympathy for the idea.

“No. Got to muscle it,” Lundgaard replied, capturing his attitude towards one of the physical demands which has long separated IndyCar from several other major single-seater championships.

The physical challenge was matched by the precision required around the walls. One section in particular demanded full commitment while offering little forgiveness, with the cars moving through a narrow sequence where even a small error risked ending the afternoon.

Lundgaard summed up the danger in simple terms while discussing Turn 6 and Turn 7. Rather than being distracted by the scenery surrounding the venue, drivers remained focused on keeping their cars away from the barriers.

“Small mistake, big consequence,” Lundgaard said as the drivers discussed the section. He also described the surface as “pretty slick”, adding another difficulty to a part of the circuit where drivers had little room to correct an error.

That combination helped make the race demanding even when the field settled into longer runs. Drivers needed enough confidence to attack while respecting a circuit which punished overcommitment, something Lundgaard managed throughout the afternoon on his way to second.

His ability to remain in contention also placed him in position to capitalise when other leading drivers encountered difficult races. With the championship entering its final stretch, avoiding those costly afternoons has become one of Lundgaard’s priorities.

“Álex and David [Malukas] had some unfortunate luck out there. But those are the days that we need to not have for the rest of the season,” Lundgaard said. “I'm definitely pushing for that second. Kyle made that a little tougher for me today.”

Despite Lundgaard’s strong afternoon, Kirkwood remained the benchmark. The Andretti Global driver controlled the race for long stretches and converted his pace into victory, strengthening his hold on second in the championship.

Credit: James Black

Lundgaard did have moments where he started to close the gap, giving him brief hope of mounting a challenge. Those periods did not last long enough, with Kirkwood responding and maintaining control across the longer run.

“I feel like I had just a couple of laps where I was faster than him, and then I know the 12 laps where he was faster than me,” Lundgaard said. The assessment carried little drama. Kirkwood had simply possessed more pace across enough of the race to keep Lundgaard behind.

Lundgaard still found some humour in finishing one place away from victory. When discussing a return to Washington D.C. alongside Power, he joked about what each needed to improve if the series came back.

“I just got to do it one better. He's got to do it two better,” Lundgaard said after finishing second to Kirkwood, turning the disappointment of missing the win into a light-hearted assessment of what he wanted from another visit.

With three races remaining, Lundgaard’s focus now shifts away from Washington D.C. and towards securing the best possible championship finish. Palou’s advantage makes the title a difficult target, while Kirkwood’s victory strengthened his position in the battle for runner-up.

For Lundgaard, the equation is straightforward. He needs clean weekends, strong finishes and opportunities to take points away from Kirkwood. Washington D.C. provided one of those strong results, even though the winner took more points home.

“Obviously Kyle and I were second and fourth in the championship going into this weekend,” Lundgaard said. “I'm definitely pushing for that second. Kyle made that a little tougher for me today.”

The final three races will take IndyCar away from the spectacle of Washington D.C. and into a different set of challenges, beginning with Milwaukee. Lundgaard knows the atmosphere will feel different after a weekend he regarded as one of the most memorable IndyCar has staged.

“I think Milwaukee to some extent is going to feel a little boring next week. Just so different,” Lundgaard said. “Obviously it's a different type of track, it's a different event. Nothing's like D.C. But I think we did very well for the first time.”

Washington D.C. therefore gave Lundgaard plenty to take away. He experienced an event he felt belonged in the conversation with the Indianapolis 500, handled a demanding new circuit and finished second on a day when several rivals lost ground.

The victory escaped him and Kirkwood strengthened his advantage in their championship fight, but Lundgaard left the capital with another major result and a clear target for the final three races. Second in the championship remains within reach, and after another podium in Washington D.C., the Dane has every reason to keep chasing it.