Lundqvist working all angles to stay in IndyCar
10/31/2024 09:00 AM
Linus Lundqvist is doing everything he can to continue his brief career as an NTT IndyCar Series driver.
With Chip Ganassi Racing's confirmation of Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8 Honda Lundqvist drove to two third-place finishes and a pole position on his way to winning Rookie of the Year honors, the young Swede has been in contact with all of the teams who have seats to fill.
It's a shrinking number that's down to five, with two apiece from Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing and one at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and in most cases, the 2022 Indy Lights champion would need to bring a budget to secure the drive.
Signed to a multi-year deal with Ganassi heading into 2024, RACER understands the team has given the 25-year-old its permission to seek new opportunities in the IndyCar paddock and elsewhere to take the next step in the sport.
"Positive talks are definitely happening, which is nice, but as usual within any business, all ends need to meet, and that includes financial ends," Lundqvist told RACER. "So that’s usually what the talks have been about so far. I do still think that there are some opportunities for me to continue in IndyCar, which is good. We’re just gonna have to wait and see if we can make it happen."
With a couple of Rolex 24 At Daytonas on his CV, Lundqvist is also keen to explore what's available in IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
"IMSA is something that every driver looks very fondly upon and it's obviously something that I’m eyeing as well," he said. "The main goal is still to stay in IndyCar but the IMSA side, the sports car stuff, is definitely something that I am interested in, especially if the IndyCar side doesn’t happen. I’m keeping a very much open door to sports cars, even outside of America."
