Chip Ganassi Racing has confirmed Christian Lundgaard as the new driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, with team owner Chip Ganassi outlining the reasoning behind the signing. Lundgaard will take over the seat long associated with Scott Dixon, joining an organisation that has won 18 IndyCar championships.
Speaking to Pit Debrief and other media outlets during a press conference, Ganassi explained how Lundgaard emerged as the leading candidate after the team evaluated the available drivers. The Dane’s third-place finish in the 2026 championship, combined with his experience and approach to racing, made him an attractive addition to the team.
“My opening statement would be when is the last time a guy that finished third in the points was available,” Ganassi said. “That about says it all to me.”
Lundgaard emerged as the obvious choice
Although Lundgaard ultimately stood out, Ganassi revealed that the team considered a range of candidates before reaching its decision. CGR assessed drivers both within and outside IndyCar, weighing their experience, availability and ability to adapt to the series.
However, Lundgaard’s name repeatedly returned to the forefront of the discussion. Ganassi explained that the team considered how each potential signing compared with the Dane, particularly when evaluating drivers who might need to learn the circuits or adjust to racing in the United States.
“But Christian’s name kept landing back as the obvious one,” Ganassi said. “Like, wait a minute, ‘we’re not overlooking this guy, are we?‘”
Lundgaard’s five seasons of IndyCar experience also gave him an advantage. Having already competed across the championship’s different circuit types, he can enter CGR with an established understanding of the series rather than needing time to familiarise himself with its demands.
Ganassi confident in Lundgaard’s potential on ovals
One of the questions surrounding Lundgaard’s move has been his performance on oval circuits. Ganassi, however, expressed confidence in the driver’s ability to continue developing in that area, pointing to his performance and a podium at Milwaukee as evidence of his potential.
“I didn’t see any of those questions at Milwaukee; he seemed to do okay there,” Ganassi said, noting that Lundgaard had finished ahead of all three CGR drivers at the oval.
The team owner also praised Lundgaard’s methodical approach to racing, describing him as a driver who studies his craft and approaches his work carefully. For Ganassi, that mindset offers further reason to believe Lundgaard can succeed within the organisation.
“I think I like his approach to driving. I think he’s very clinical,” Ganassi said. “He seems to be a student of the craft. I’m optimistic.”
Character and culture remain central to the decision
Beyond results and technical ability, Ganassi emphasised the importance of finding drivers who fit the organisation’s established culture. He explained that his conversations with prospective signings focus less on car set-ups and performance details and more on understanding their character, values and priorities.
“I want to know what they’re made of, what their values are,” Ganassi said.
Ganassi added that he questioned Lundgaard extensively about the team’s expectations and what it considers important, both on and off the track. He credited Mike Hull and his team with helping build CGR’s culture, explaining that maintaining those standards remains central to the organisation’s continued success.
Preparing for a new chapter in the No. 9
Lundgaard’s arrival will also bring adjustments to the No. 9 team’s personnel and engineering structure. Ganassi confirmed that CGR routinely moves people between cars and departments, although the specific arrangements for 2027 had not yet been finalised.
With five-time champion Alex Palou continuing to lead the team’s charge and Lundgaard arriving after a third-place championship finish, CGR will have another proven contender in its lineup. Ganassi also highlighted the value of the team’s relatively young driver roster, which he believes provides room for continued success in the years ahead.
For now, the focus is on bringing Lundgaard into the team and giving him the tools to succeed. Ganassi’s comments suggest that the signing is not simply about recruiting a driver with strong results, but about finding someone whose experience, mindset and values align with the team’s long-term ambitions.
