IndyCar Driver Christian Lundgaard Celebrates First Victory

Indycar champion Christian Lungard, welcome to Young Hollywood. How does that title sound before your name? Let's get that out of the way first.

Um, I mean, it feels great. Um, but the season isn't over yet. It's, it's uh, it's one victory and there's many more races to come. We got a double header in Iowa now. Um, for the high V race weekend and I'm in the high V car, so uh, that's definitely the important one for me. Um, but it feels good coming into this weekend as the uh, defending race winner. Um, so uh, we'll we'll see what we can do then, but right now I'm just uh, I'm just excited to to have that off my back.

Well, you have something off your face now uh, after your big win in Canada. So tell me about what's missing and how that actually came about because you have less facial hair now.

Yeah, I'm uh, I'm missing a mustache now or I should say a fake mustache really. It wasn't that great. Um, but my my best friend and I we made a a bet. Uh, it was actually more of a deal. Um, that none of us could uh, could shave our mustache until I wanted race and uh, what was it, the tenth or eleventh race of the season and you know I we we got quite far into it and I started getting worried that it was ever going to happen. Uh, but it did and uh, he was there for the weekend so we we got to experience that and and shave it off in in Victory Lane together which was kind of cool.

Any other surprises happen in Toronto that we don't know about or just the mustache?

Well, just the mustache. In terms of uh, of deals and um, agreements, I should say. Uh, but no, it was it was a pretty good weekend overall. Um, obviously I had the the the best opportunity possible putting it on on pole as well starting the race from first. And therefore it should be pretty simple uh, just stay stay in the lead.

Well, you came in first and you're actually the first Danish driver to win an Indycar race. That has to feel kind of amazing too.

It does. It does. My dad called me Monday morning when when I when I finally got home and and asked me, how does it feel to to be a winner? And I said, well, I'm laying here on my couch. The couch feels pretty normal. I feel pretty normal. Um, it's done now. And we're focusing on on getting another one. Um, but it but it definitely feels good.

Okay, so let's talk about this weekend. A huge race weekend in Iowa. High V weekend. What makes this so grand? Because a lot is going on.

Definitely. Uh, what High V has done for for this series and for our team and and for me, uh, being on the the 45 High V Honda car, uh, driving that car and now having one a race, uh, the weekend before we go to Iowa, uh, where we have a have two races. It's a double header. We race Saturday and we race Sunday. And we got four concerts. They've they've brought uh, amazing artists out. Uh, they did as well last year and I'm only looking forward to see what they can come on with come up with for next year. Um, but you know, it's it's going to be a very important weekend for me. Uh, driving the 45 High V car. Uh, there's going to be a lot of pressure on on me and it's my birthday on the Sunday. So it's it's going to be a fun weekend for sure.

I was just going to say you have a very big day ahead on Sunday, uh, your twenty second birthday. Uh, how do you plan to celebrate? I'm assuming with a win, right?

I'll definitely try. Um, it's going to be tough. There's there's uh, a lot of other fast card cars and drivers out there. Um, but I'm you know, it's it's it's a weekend where we come in with a lot of confidence with a lot of momentum from from the previous races. Uh, we've had a good streak going in terms of results and it's just been getting better and better and we've been consistently fast in in the in the top ten. Um, so I I do think that we can do some something good here. Uh, but in terms of celebrating my birthday, there wouldn't be any anything better than than winning on on Sunday, right? So Right now I don't have any proper celebrations planned other than that.

Do you have any secret bets going on that we don't know about if you win in Iowa this weekend?

No. Um, I probably should have some but but I don't. Um, Victor and I has uh, we've already spoken about it but we we've decided that we're not going to do anything for the time being. Um, so then I guess we'll see after Iowa.

Don't shave your head. You have a really good head of hair.

Yeah, we we're not doing that. That's not happening.

Well, so you talked about the performers coming to Iowa. I'm just going to like rattle them off because these are some of the biggest names in entertainment. You have Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, uh, Zac Brown Band. Oh, and that guy, Ed Sheeran. Couldn't get a better lineup than that?

I don't think so personally. Um, you know, it's great and also, you know, I I'm I'm a young young guy. I grew up um, with Ed Sheeran, you know, listening to his music. Uh, it's probably more my time frame. Um, so if if I would if I would pick anyone personally, it's it's going to be him that I want to watch. But also it's right after the race on my birthday, so it's uh, it's kind of just lined up for me.

Now, if you could uh, talk to these guys and and, you know, ask them some questions. You I mean, you're a famous race car driver but they're they're famous like rock star. So what kind of questions would you ask a rock star and Ed Sheeran, perhaps?

That's a that's a great question. Um, I don't know. I guess it's I guess the first question will be, did you watch the race? Because I'm sure they will ask me, did you did you watch the concert? I guess it'll be a conversation of um, you know, the similarities between between our lives even though that they're very different. Um, they're still very similar. So I guess it'll it'll just have a be be getting an understanding of what they really do.

Well, you actually, you and Ed both grew up overseas in Europe. So talk about the transition from racing in Europe to the states because obviously there's a big difference there.

Yeah, it's it's very uh, similar but different, you know. It's same, same, same but but different. Um, you know, driving a race car is they will always feel different. Um, the best way to explain it is, I drive for for Rahal Letterman Lannigan racing, but if I would be in a Chip Ganassi car or a Penske car, they will feel different from the car I'm driving now but it's still the the same car. Um, but overseas it's it's a different racing series and I raced in Formula 2. I was a a part of a Formula 1 team for almost five years. Um, so I've I've driven F1 cars as well. But coming over here, I just enjoy it more because it reminds me more of of Go-karts, um, back when I was doing that in in Europe and it's it's a fun time over here. I really enjoy it.

Well, you were rookie of the year in 2022, which was just a mere year ago. You're not a rookie anymore. You got a win under your belt. So what advice would you pass on to the next rookie, rookie class?

Work hard. Um, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

I'll take that. Here's to the win on Sunday and your birthday.

Yes.