Grand Prix of Long Beach: Christian Lundgaard celebrates strong start to season

Christian Lundgaard wasn’t thrilled to finish 11th in NTT IndyCar series points in 2024. But he’s off to a solid start here in 2025 after making the podium with a third-place finish at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday.

“I was very vocal in the offseason that I wanted to get off to a strong start with Arrow McLaren and I think we’ve clearly done that,” he said. “I’ve never been higher in the championship than I am now, so we’ve done a good job.”

Lundgaard, who previously drove for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing before signing with Arrow McLaren for this season, moved into third place in the series standings behind Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood, who finished first Sunday ahead of second-place Palou.

Lundgaard, of Denmark, was eighth in the season-opener at St. Petersburg and third in Thermal.

“I think we started sort of conservative in St. Petersburg and I think today we showed where we really can be, where we’re supposed to be,” Lundgaard said.

PARTNERSHIP

AJ Foyt Racing held a news conference in the media center announcing a recent partnership it has put together with the Alzheimer’s Association, which seeks to end the disease as well as other forms of dementia by advancing research, providing free local education programs as well as care and support services.

Larry Foyt, the biological grandson and adopted son of Hall of Fame driver A.J. Foyt, is happy that his team is on board with the endeavor.

“Well, first of all we’re just honored to be a part of this program,” said Larry Foyt, who added, “so it’s really exciting to bring more awareness.”

Gloria Crockett is the executive director of the California Southland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. At one point, she asked reporters at the news conference to raise their hands if they have been affected by Alzheimer’s in any way. Many in the crowd of about 100 did.

“We need to increase awareness,” Crockett said. “There are over 7 million, and I want to repeat that, 7 million individuals across the United States that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

“And right here in California, there are over 700,000 and those are the ones that are documented. There are several out there that haven’t been, so there’s been a stigma around this. We need to talk about it and we need to make sure we create a movement.”

Part of that movement will include a series the association is calling Walk to End Alzheimer’s events across the Southland. They begin Sept. 21, with one in Long Beach scheduled for Oct. 26 at Shoreline Aquatic Park.

HALL OF FAME

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of American announced its 2026 induction class, with the ceremony to take place next March 9-10 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Enshrined into the open wheel category will be “Slammin Sammy” Swindell.

Others include Dale Earnhardt Jr. (stock cars), Steve Gibbs (drag racing), Pete Lyons (media), John Morton (sports cars), Kenny Roberts Jr. (motorcycles) and Dave Villwock (powerboats).