Linus Lundqvist endured a mixed first full season in IndyCar while competing for Chip Ganassi Racing over the year.
The Swedish driver drove in three rounds for Meyer Shank Racing last year in preparation for a full-time IndyCar seat, critically gaining experience on ovals at Gateway.
Lundqvist had moments of brilliance throughout this season, suffering a difficult start on the streets of St. Petersburg in IndyCar.
He only finished inside the top 10 five times, one of which was at the non-championship $1 Million Challenge at The Thermal Club.
Chip Ganassi Racing‘s Lundqvist was very competitive on ovals towards the end of the year, scoring points in three of the four final events on an oval.
Despite his strong end to the year in IndyCar, he admitted to the official IndyCar website that he underestimated the intensity of the schedule.
Linus Lundqvist explained he didn’t realise how ‘intense’ an IndyCar season would be
Lundqvist was very impressive throughout his junior career, winning the British F3 Championship before moving to the US and clinching the Indy Lights title.
Junior championships are excellent for developing racecraft and learning circuits that are also used by professional series such as F1 and IndyCar.
Despite being good for young drivers to sharpen their skills, junior series often have long breaks which isn’t the same in IndyCar.
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North America’s highest level of single-seater racing operates among a packed schedule with 17 rounds all completed between March and September.
Lundqvist explained that the quick turnaround between events was something he struggled to adjust to after ascending the junior ranks.
He said: “When the season really got going, I never really understood and realised how intense it is and the short amount of breaks that you and the whole team get.
“And then knowing how to where to spend your energy, throughout the weekend, throughout the week, throughout those months, and especially the Month of May, it was so intense with everything going around it. That was a big, big learning curve.”
Linus Lundqvist may not have done enough to retain his drive at Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing is downsizing from five cars to just three cars as IndyCar welcomes the charter system ahead of the 2025 season.
Multiple champions Scott Dixon and Alex Palou have been retained by the team, leaving one seat available. There is a lot of competition, although Kyffin Simpson is likely to stay at CGR and keep the third seat.
The brand new team PREMA have a vacancy, and Lundqvist may be an option alongside Callum Ilott in one of the Chevrolet-powered cars.