Christian Lundgaard will join Chip Ganassi Racing on a multi-year contract starting in the 2027 season, unveiling one of INDYCAR’s “not-so-well-kept” secrets on the paddock. Lundgaard’s signing secured his spot in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as the new primary driver of No. 9 PNC Bank Honda.
“It’s really just a dream come true in many ways,” said Lundgaard. “It’s one of those opportunities you never expected to rise.”
The announcement comes after Lundgaard’s career-best season in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It also follows the departure of 24 full-time season Chip Ganassi Racing veteran Scott Dixon and Alex Palou securing the team’s record-breaking 18th INDYCAR SERIES championship.
Throughout his INDYCAR career, Lundgaard has three wins, 21 top-five finishes and 46 top-ten finishes. Lundgaard finished third overall in the 2026 championship standings with 535 points during his career-best season. He earned two victories at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and Road America, along with eight top-five finishes and 14 top-ten finishes.
Despite his stand-out season at Arrow McLaren, the team shocked many–including Lundgaard–when it announced it would not renew his contract. Arrow McLaren instead signed Dixon to the No. 7 car. Lundgaard said he kept his head down and worked to do the best he could after the announcement, knowing Chip Ganassi Racing had an open spot on its roster.
Chip Ganassi, CEO of Chip Ganassi Racing, said the team considered other drivers outside the INDYCAR SERIES in its search for the new No. 9 driver. However, Lundgaard remained the obvious choice. “I think it all has to do with his prerequisites… he’s taken something away from all of [those teams] to develop into the driver he is today.”
In his time with Arrow McLaren, Lundgaard learned to perform through some of his worst setbacks. During the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, Lundgaard charged back from last to first after encountering contact on lap 1. He also proved doubters wrong about his performance on oval tracks during the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader weekend. Lundgaard finished the weekend with a third-place podium and a sixth-place finish.
Lundgaard will now have the opportunity to continue that development alongside five-time INDYCAR champion Palou. Palou spent years learning from Dixon before becoming the team’s established leader. Rather than focusing solely on matching Palou’s performance on track, Lundgaard plans to learn how his new teammate operates behind the scenes. He also wants to find his own place within the team.
“Alex has learned from Scott Dixon, and if I can learn the Scott Dixon things from Alex Palou with a twist of Alex Palou, it’s the right combination,” Lundgaard said. He added that integrating with the team and learning the people around him will help him get the most out of the opportunity. Lundgaard hopes to become another piece of the organization and build toward “many good years.”
“I’m optimistic,” Ganassi said about Lundgaard’s potential. “I like his approach to driving… he’s very clinical.”
Lundgaard will make his competitive debut with Chip Ganassi Racing at the 2027 season opener in March on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.