Christian Lundgaard isn’t feeling the pressure. That’s not to say he doesn’t understand what awaits him in 2027.

The 25-year-old Dane (photo, top), who finished third in points in the 2026 season with Arrow McLaren, takes over the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing. He replaces Scott Dixon, who spent 24 full-time seasons with the organization, won six championships, 58 of his 59 career victories and the 2008 Indianapolis 500.

That is a difficult history to follow. But each side views this as a perfect opportunity.

“I’m super excited,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “When’s the last time the guy that’s finished third in the points was available? That says it all to me.”

Lundgaard was Arrow McLaren’s highest point scorer in 2026 and won twice, giving him two victories, 13 podium finishes and 14 top-five results in his two seasons with the team.

Yet in early July, Lundgaard learned Arrow McLaren would not offer him a contract for 2027. Suddenly, a driver who at the time was also third in the championship was looking for a new home. He was disappointed and confused.

“I found out a couple of hours before the media found out,” Lundgaard said. “I sort of had an idea that was a possibility. I tried to just keep my head down.”

The timing was significant. Part of the Lundgaard announcement was that the team had signed Dixon to join Pato O’Ward for 2027, with Felix Rosenqvist also joining the organization. That left Ganassi looking for a replacement for one of the most accomplished drivers in team history. Lundgaard emerged as a logical fit.

No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

But a fit like that creates expectations. Lundgaard is aware he cannot simply step into the No. 9 Honda (photo, above) and replicate what Dixon accomplished. In the same breath, he also knows he is joining an organization that has repeatedly turned talented drivers into champions.

Dixon won the championship in his first full-time season with Ganassi in 2003. Juan Montoya did the same in 1999, Dario Franchitti in 2009 and Alex Palou in 2021, the first of five titles in six years, including the last four.

“The first thought that I had when this opportunity became on the table was, I’m learning from the best driver (Alex Palou), who learned from the best driver in Scott Dixon,” Lundgaard said. “Getting to learn as much as I can from there. It really is just a dream come true in many ways. It’s one of those opportunities you never expected to rise.”

But there is one question Lundgaard must answer – performance on ovals. That was one of the reasons cited for Arrow McLaren’s decision to drop him. Ganassi doesn’t see the same limitation. He sees an area where Lundgaard can continue to develop and one of the reasons he believed he was “best available” for hire.

“I like his approach to driving,” Ganassi said. “I think he’s very clinical. I think he’s a student of the craft. I didn’t see any oval questions at Milwaukee. That’s an oval. He beat all three of our guys. I’m not concerned.”

The Milwaukee Mile doubleheader in August was significant for Lundgaard. He finished third, earning his first top-five finish on a circle track, during the final oval race of the 2026 season. He finished sixth in the other race of the doubleheader. That was another indication that Lundgaard’s oval results are trending in the right direction.

His average oval finish has improved in each of his first five seasons in the series, from 18.4 as a rookie to 17.6, 15.3, 13.2 and 10.8. Ganassi believes there is more to come.

“In some of our first meetings, I grilled him (Lundgaard) pretty extensively on what we expect,” Ganassi said. “We have a great culture. I’m confident that our system will continue to develop Christian in the same manner.

“You look at Christian’s age and his experience in the series. He’s learned the circuits. He understands the paddock. We look for people with talent. Everything else can sort of be taught.”

Lundgaard admitted joining Ganassi is a tough situation to enter. He’s replacing a six-time champion and joining a five-time champion.

“We know the cars are fast,” Lundgaard said. “That’s the thing I need to keep in mind. I need to learn as much as possible and do the simple things right. That’s something CGR has been very good at.

“I know what I’m capable of and why I’ve been hired. Trying to learn as much as possible and get the most out of it. The main objective is to get a CGR car to Victory Lane.”

Ganassi said: “He seems to be able to keep the rubber side down and shiny side up, as they say. Those drivers keep the car on the track, and that turns into points.”

That’s why Lundgaard believes this is the right opportunity to take him to the next level. Take what Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing taught, McLaren believed was missing from his game and combine it with what Ganassi already sees in him to find out what the next chapter can produce.

“We’re in the business to win but also create some great stories,” Lundgaard said.