2018 BRDC British F3 champion Linus Lundqvist has been confirmed on a multi-year IndyCar deal with leading squad Chip Ganassi Racing.
The 24-year-old Swedish driver made his IndyCar race debut earlier this month with Meyer Shank Racing, and immediately impressed, taking the fastest lap honours in his debut race at Nashville, and once more at the World Wide Technology Raceway oval.
Those performances have been recognised by series dominators Ganassi, who have won the championship 14 times since their first success in 1996, and are currently first and second in 2023 with Alex Palou and Scott Dixon. Both drivers are expected to race alongside Lundqvist at the team next year.
”Joining Chip Ganassi Racing is an absolute dream come true for me,” Lundqvist said.
“Stepping up to race full-time in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and to do so with one of the most successful teams in the history of the championship, is the moment I’ve been working for throughout my career. It is hard to explain how much this means to me. I am incredibly grateful to Chip, to Mike, and to everyone who has backed me on this journey, including of course my family.”
Signing for the team, which has also won the Indy 500 on five occasions, is the culmination of an exceptional junior single-seater career, which in addition to his BRDC British F3 crown has seen Lundqvist win the Formula Regional Americas title in 2020 before claiming the second tier Indy NXT crown last year.
“I have dipped my toes into INDYCAR racing in recent weeks, which will give me a little bit of a head start going into 2024. Also, coming up through INDY NXT has provided me with some important experience that will help me get up to speed.
“Having said that, this is an entirely new challenge as I prepare to join an established top team at the highest level of the sport. I know there is a lot of hard work ahead, but having a team like Chip Ganassi Racing put their trust in me is the greatest motivator I could ever have. I intend to do everything in my power to grab this opportunity and I look forward to all the moments ahead, next year and beyond.”
His new team believes it has signed up one of the strongest rookie talents of recent seasons.
“It’s terrific that the opportunity to hire Linus, a proven winner, plus the reigning 2022 INDY NXT champion is now a reality at Chip Ganassi Racing,” says Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull.
“He has shown that his on-track performance creates the race craft separation that’s required in INDYCAR today. Growing together with Linus is what comes next.”