The crazy Danica Patrick streak McLaren’s newest driver wants to end

The crazy Danica Patrick streak McLaren's newest driver wants to end

As a seasoned IndyCar fan with memories dating back to the golden days of the sport, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement as Christian Lundgaard prepares to step into the No. 7 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren in the upcoming 2025 season. Having followed his impressive performances at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, I’ve witnessed firsthand his ability to consistently get the most out of his equipment. His podium finishes and race wins, including that memorable victory on the streets of Toronto in 2023, have left me with no doubt that he’s ready for this next chapter in his career.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be joining Arrow McLaren for the 2025 IndyCar season! I’ll be teaming up with Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel, stepping into the shoes of Alexander Rossi behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet. After an incredible three-plus seasons with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, I’m ready for this exciting new chapter in my career!

Lundgaard impressed with a Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team many consider to be a step below Arrow McLaren, recording podium finishes in all three of his seasons as a full-time driver. He even won the race on the streets of Toronto in 2023 and finished higher than Rossi in the standings that year.

2024 saw him placing 11th, just below Rossi, while being seven positions ahead of his nearest teammate, Graham Rahal.

As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but notice Lundgaard consistently maximizing the potential of his gear. This impressive display was undeniably compelling to Zak Brown and his team, leading them to make the strategic decision to part ways with a former Indy 500 winner who was vying for a second victory in the No. 7 car, in both seasons he piloted it.

Now Lundgaard has the opportunity to end a drought that dates back 17 IndyCar seasons.

Back in April 2008, when I stood on that victory podium at Twin Ring Motegi, it was with the No. 7 Honda as my trusted steed, proudly flying under the banner of Andretti Green Racing.

282 IndyCar races have taken place since then, and in all those events, the number 7 car participated in 262 of them. However, none of those 262 races featuring the number 7 car resulted in a win for that particular entry.

Since Patrick’s sole victory, drivers such as Patrick, Sebastien Bourdais, Mikhail Aleshin, James Jakes, Marcus Ericsson, Oliver Askew, Felix Rosenqvist, and more recently Rossi have all reached the podium while driving car No. 7. However, none of their 14 appearances on the podium resulted in a first-place finish.

During that period, the teammates of the driver of car No. 7 have achieved a total of 18 victories. Pato O’Ward is currently at the forefront with seven wins, among them three from the year 2024. Notably, he remains McLaren’s sole winner since they made their full-time IndyCar debut in 2020.

In addition to the mentioned list, there are drivers such as James Hinchcliffe, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Simon Pagenaud, Mike Conway, and Marco Andretti. These racers secured their wins while representing either Schmidt Peterson Motorsports or Andretti Autosport teams during that period.

What’s so “lucky” about No. 7, anyway?

In the upcoming 2025 IndyCar season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida on March 2nd, Lundgaard will get his first chance to break a 282-race dry spell. Coverage for this event will be broadcast live by Fox, with the exact start time yet to be announced.

2024-10-08 15:02

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