Christian Lundgaard delivered one of IndyCar’s sharpest recovery drives of the season at Road America, winning Sunday’s XPEL Grand Prix after first-lap contact left him last in the 25-car field and needing repairs.
The Dane’s No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was damaged almost immediately, forcing an unscheduled response and turning his afternoon from contender to long-shot. From there, Lundgaard and Arrow McLaren rebuilt the race piece by piece, using pace, timing and clean execution to climb back into victory contention.
It was Lundgaard’s second win of the 2026 IndyCar season, and the manner of it mattered as much as the result. Road America rewards commitment, braking confidence and straight-line speed, but it also punishes overreach.
Arrow McLaren Turn Damage Into A Statement Win
The official IndyCar race report noted Lundgaard’s stunned radio line, “How did we do that?”, which summed up the turnaround. For Arrow McLaren, this was more than a rescue job; it was proof the team can convert speed into ruthless Sundays.
The finish came under caution after Graham Rahal spun into the gravel following contact with Will Power while the pair were fighting for third. That incident froze the order and denied any final restart drama, but it did not lessen the achievement at the front.
For Lundgaard, this victory will sit high on any season review. It came from damage limitation, belief and execution, and it leaves Arrow McLaren looking more dangerous on the road courses.
