Chip Ganassi Racing confirms a multi-year deal for Christian Lundgaard to drive the #9 PNC Bank Honda from 2027, replacing Scott Dixon after his move to Arrow McLaren.

Lundgaard joins five-time champion Alex Palou and Kyffin Simpson, giving Ganassi a balanced roster of proven title pedigree and developing speed across road, street, and oval disciplines.

The Dane arrives off a breakout 2026 campaign: three wins, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and Road America, plus his first oval podium and third in the championship standings.

Those results come with Arrow McLaren, where he accumulates 87 starts, 16 podiums, and 21 top-five finishes, underscoring adaptability and execution under varied strategies and race conditions.

Chip Ganassi highlights Lundgaard’s proven race-winning profile and ceiling for growth. Ganassi’s programme traditionally onboards young talent and accelerates development through robust engineering depth and operational discipline.

Ganassi’s record is imposing: 18 IndyCar titles in 31 seasons since 1996, placing the team among North America’s most decorated sporting organisations.

Sponsor continuity supports the transition. PNC Bank stays primary backer, a partnership since 2013 that yields six IndyCar championships, including Dixon’s 2018 and 2020 crowns on the #9 programme.

Within the garage, Lundgaard will benchmark against Palou and Simpson. Palou’s reigning title form sets a clear reference, as evidenced by his 2026 crown at Ganassi.

The competitive context sharpens. IndyCar parity increases, with scheduling stability and technical continuity driving closer fields, reflected in 2026 record engagement and performance metrics across manufacturers and teams.

A manufacturer switch awaits. Lundgaard moves to Honda power with Ganassi, demanding rapid adaptation to drivability characteristics, deployment strategies, and the team’s established baselines across road, street, and ovals.

Ganassi’s Indianapolis 500 emphasis remains central. Lundgaard’s recent oval progress, including his first oval podium, suggests a platform to strengthen Indy credentials alongside proven road-course pace.

He rises through karting and junior formulae, completes three Formula 2 seasons, and supports Alpine F1 in the simulator before switching focus to North American open-wheel.

Lundgaard debuts in 2021, scores a maiden IndyCar podium in 2022, and wins in Toronto 2023, becoming Denmark’s first North American open-wheel race winner.

PNC executive Lou Cestello welcomes the next chapter, citing Lundgaard’s early achievements and backing measurable progress in 2027 while reinforcing the programme’s consistency around the #9.

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Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.