The Arrow McLaren IndyCar group will change Alexander Rossi with Danish driver Christian Lundgaard on the finish of the 2024 season, ending the 2016 Indy 500 winner’s two-year tenure in Papaya orange colours. The transfer is an fascinating one, as Rossi clearly nonetheless has the drive and expertise (although perhaps not the luck) wanted to succeed—he certified and completed fourth on the Indy 500 this 12 months, and sits seventh on factors following a podium at the newest Laguna Seca spherical. Lundgaard, nevertheless, exhibits plenty of promise as he’s been severely outdriving his Rahal Letterman-entered automobile.
Lundgaard, to his credit score, was the favourite among the many sequence’ 2025 pack of free brokers, having grabbed one IndyCar victory, a trio of podiums, and two pole positions. After three seasons with Rahal Letterman, it’s clear he was the group’s highest performing driver, handily outscoring defacto group chief Graham Rahal in 2023 and to date this 12 months.
Rossi, in the meantime, has struggled in his time with McLaren. The 32-year-old Californian—and five-time F1 grand prix participant—hasn’t discovered a race win since July of 2022, scoring no higher than third in his time with McLaren. In the meantime teammate Pato O’Ward has grabbed a win and eight additional podiums, together with narrowly shedding the Indy 500 in Could, vastly overshadowing Rossi.
McLaren’s driver lineup troubles started with hiring defending champion driver Alex Palou on the shut of the 2022 season, which introduced with it authorized motion from Chip Ganassi Racing, the place Palou continues to race at this time. McLaren handed Palou a $30M lawsuit for alleged breach of contract. Palou was supposed to switch Felix Rosenqvist, who was pushed out anyway on the shut of 2023. Rosenqvist’s vacated quantity six automobile has since been stuffed by David Malukas (who by no means raced for the group as he was fired following a biking harm), Callum Illott for 3 rounds, Theo Pourchaire for 5 rounds, and hopefully has lastly settled with rookie Nolan Siegel within the seat.
McLaren is struggling in 2024, sitting a transparent distance behind IndyCar high groups Penske and Ganassi.
Rossi had this to say of his departure.
“My time at Arrow McLaren, whereas it’s been solely brief two seasons, has been rewarding in some ways. I’m grateful to have been a part of the group’s inside development.
“The No. 7 crew is unbelievable, and I’ve constructed plenty of long-lasting friendships with the group. The mutual resolution to half methods is amicable. I’m very assured with present discussions within the paddock to land a brand new spot. I’ll have excellent news to comply with quickly, and in the meantime I’m targeted on a top-five end within the 2024 championship and a robust conclusion to my time in papaya.”
There aren’t a ton of open seats in compelling groups the place Rossi may land. Perhaps it will see a driver swap and he’ll occupy Lundgaard’s vacated RLL seat. Personally, I’d wish to see Rossi transfer out of IndyCar right into a extra everlasting sports activities automobile function. He does have a 2021 Daytona 24 victory to his identify, in spite of everything. With Acura transferring its IMSA program again to Meyer Shank Racing, I’d hope that he may very well be pushed into one of many group’s management sports activities automobile roles, with a chance to race with them on the Indy 500, the place he stays fairly profitable. That may very well be the most suitable choice for him, if Mike Shank is concerned with signing that contract.
