A local of Copenhagen, Denmark, Rasmussen is getting ready for a partial season in 2024 with Ed Carpenter Racing, primarily centered on street and avenue occasions along with the Indianapolis 500.
The lifelong dream of advancing to IndyCar comes with the help of $850,000 for claiming the 2023 Indy NXT title with HMD Motorsports following a dominant run of 5 wins, eight podiums, 10 top-five finishes and 13 high 10s in 14 races.
Nonetheless, that achievement, which got here in solely his second season in high developmental class, almost slipped away on a number of events.
“I’m out of a really common household, and clearly I’ve had nice assist from buyers and sponsors throughout the best way,” mentioned Rasmussen, 23.
“However a lot of the budgets for every year has come from the scholarships. That was why like final yr was very arduous for us as a result of that was the primary time shortly the place we did not have a scholarship, or I did not have a scholarship.
“We needed to discover a full finances. That proved to be very arduous. We pushed by means of, however not with out points. Like 3 times in the course of the yr, we have been lower than 24 hours from dropping my journey, which was arduous. However we pushed by means of, made it occur, and nonetheless received the championship, which obtained me into IndyCar.”
Christian Rasmussen, HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing
Picture by: Penske Leisure
These points started even earlier than the season-opener in St. Petersburg, with one other on the halfway level of the yr. Much more gut-wrenching, the third time occurred getting into the eleventh spherical in St. Louis regardless of being firmly planted atop the general standings because the factors chief.
“I used to be in a position to put it aside and get some good assist from lots of completely different folks, which was superior, which helped me get by means of additionally,” mentioned Rasmussen, who helped information Period Motorsport to an LMP2 class victory within the Daytona 24 Hours final month.
“My workforce was excellent working with me, partly additionally as a result of on the finish I used to be main the championship. Clearly, they wished to win a championship in addition to I did. I feel that helped. “I feel if I weren’t main the championship, I do not assume I might have been capable of end the yr as a result of I would not have that very same wiggle room.”
The hassle by all concerned not solely afforded Rasmussen the possibility to punch his ticket to North America’s premier open-wheel championship, but additionally cemented his title in historical past alongside Kyle Kirkwood as solely the second driver to earn titles on every step of the developmental ladder towards IndyCar — USF2000 (2020), USF Professional 2000 (2021) and Indy NXT (2023).
Now, coincidentally a yr after monetary constraints almost shelved a title-winning season, Rasmussen put the drama within the rearview and has eyes centered on the journey forward.
“It is undoubtedly a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Rasmussen mentioned.
“Clearly, there’s nonetheless all the time stress in racing. There’s all the time stress to carry out. You need to carry out to remain within the sport, particularly in a aggressive sequence like IndyCar.
“However having that monetary burden off my shoulders may be very, very nice. I simply sit up for begin racing and specializing in my craft and getting higher.”
