Lundqvist heads into this weekend’s spherical on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course eighth within the standings, which was aided by a latest strategic masterpiece to go from 19th to 3rd at Barber.
Though the outing got here in solely the 25-year-old Swede’s third points-paying race behind the wheel of CGR’s No. 8 Honda, he’s resetting any expectations.
“I would not say that my expectations have been reversed in any means, form or kind as a result of I nonetheless understand that I’ve a lot to study,” stated Lundqvist, the 2022 Indy NXT champion.
“I’ve an extended strategy to go earlier than I will be persistently, I feel preventing for podiums week out, week in.
“However I feel we undoubtedly took a step. … It was type of a receipt that when all the things does click on, we’ll be capable of struggle for these wins and podiums, which on the finish of the day that is what we’re right here to do.”
Lundqvist went on so as to add “the step” he and the group have taken.
“I am nonetheless working via completely different setups for me to be 100% snug in,” he stated.
“Proper now, even when the automotive theoretically needs to be the quickest, I am not likely but on the consolation degree to drive it that means. You lose extra out of the driving force that you’d probably acquire from the automotive, if you recognize what I imply. It is about discovering that candy spot.
“As my confidence grows within the automotive, what I am asking for, they’ll type of observe alongside and hopefully spice issues up.
“It is a course of. It is a course of that neither me or the group wish to rush via. We’re not driving round at 90%, but it surely’s nonetheless not one thing that we’re overly pressured about. We all know as soon as all the things clicks, we’ll be proper up there.”
Scott McLaughlin, Crew Penske Chevrolet, Will Energy, Crew Penske Chevrolet, Linus Lundqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda celebrateson the rostrum with champagne
Photograph by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Photos
Lundqvist’s focus is certain to be examined this weekend with 85 laps across the 2.439-mile, 14-turn circuit, and that’s principally as a result of it’s the solely race remaining earlier than embarking on his first-ever try on the Indianapolis 500.
“It is robust,” Lundqvist stated.
“It is extraordinarily exhausting. It is one thing that you have labored your complete life in direction of. The dream, it is to compete and clearly win the five hundred.
“I feel simply take it one step at a time. The objective proper now’s to attempt to win Indy GP and do properly there. Then clearly there is a fast turnaround and the shifting begins, the main focus begins to be shifted in direction of the five hundred. Clearly, we’ve loads of apply classes forward, which is good for me.
“Then you definately type of digest it into smaller targets. The primary one for me is get snug in visitors, then we’ll see how lengthy that takes. It would take the entire month. May not even be snug after the five hundred, who is aware of. I feel that is going to be the largest factor for me, is getting used to having 30-odd vehicles round you.”
