Christian Lundgaard takes a late lead to win Road America

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN — With a little bit of luck and pure pace, Christian Lundgaard surges late to win the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America.

This is his second victory this season and his third NTT INDYCAR Series win overall.

Lundgaard never would have imagined himself in victory lane after his opening lap contact left him dead last and nearly a lap down.

The early Romain Grosjean caution for his missing tire provided the chance for him to claw back in the race. He took full advantage of the restack and drove halfway through the field by around lap 32.

A caution not too long later for Christian Rasmussen disrupted the green flag pit cycle once again. Lundgaard was able to take advantage of this caution as well to vault him back into winning contention.

As the race wound down, he found himself faster than the leader Marcus Armstrong. It looked as though he would run out of laps to catch the leader. Then, fortune struck the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for the final time.

Armstrong looked poised to take his maiden INDYCAR win but his engine said otherwise. The engine started to fade with seven circuits remaining and was passed by Lundgaard with under four to go. Finally, it completely blew just across the start/finish line with three laps remaining.

That final full-course yellow set up a one lap shootout to the checkers. It was a straight forward run to the line where Lundgaard maintained his top spot over David Malukas.

The field nearly reached their epic conclusion at full speed but an incident in Canada corner threw out the yellow and the cars finished under a controlled pace.

Lundgaard leaves Road America still fourth in the standings, but his deficit to the championship leader Alex Palou is under 80 points.

One slip by Palou can put him and two others firmly within striking distance with only eight races remaining.

Notable Results

David Malukas played bridesmaid all weekend. He qualified second and ran there for much of the event. His second-place at Road America marks his third runners-up finish of the season.

He remains in the title chase as he and Kyle Kirkwood are 60 and 61 points behind the Spaniard.

Graham Rahal had a podium slip from his grasp with two corners remaining in the race from contact with Will Power. He was unable to capitalize on what was going to be an amazing result.

He had to settle for a DNF down in 23rd while Power equaled his best finish with Andretti Global from 3rd.

Kyffin Simpson continues to have his best season of his young NTT INDYCAR Series career. He finished fourth and even looked to be on the podium before INDYCAR officiating declared Power was third at the time of caution.

The polesitter and defending winner Alex Palou worked his way back to a fifth place finish. He sped on pit road and had to serve a pass through penalty just past halfway through the event. During that debacle, he scuffled with Romain Grosjean before serving his penalty which cost him more time and ultimately the win.

Alexander Rossi started in last after his six-place grid penalty and came home in sixth with Scott Mclaughlin, who carried the race sponsors colors, in seventh.

Felix Rosenqvist finished eighth. He led for a while and appeared to be in a position to win. But a caution and the closing of the pits while he committed to pitlane cost him his own chance at the win.

Santino Ferrucci qualified seventh but started 13th. He regained his top ten status midway through the event after his grid penalty and finished ninth.

Finally, Kyle Kirkwood played damage mitigation as the American driver never quite found his footing in Wisconsin. He rounded out the top ten in tenth and left third in the championship standings.

The full results of the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America can be found below.

Full Results