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 nineteenth 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 manner, form or type as a result of I nonetheless notice that I’ve a lot to be taught,” mentioned Lundqvist, the 2022 Indy NXT champion.
“I’ve a protracted strategy to go earlier than I’ll be constantly, I feel combating for podiums week out, week in.
“However I feel we undoubtedly took a step. … It was form of a receipt that when every part does click on, we’ll be capable to combat 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 crew have taken.
“I am nonetheless working by totally different setups for me to be 100% comfy in,” he mentioned.
“Proper now, even when the automotive theoretically must be the quickest, I am probably not but on the consolation degree to drive it that manner. You lose extra out of the motive 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 will form of observe alongside and hopefully spice issues up.
“It is a course of. It is a course of that neither me or the crew need to rush by. We’re not driving round at 90%, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not one thing that we’re overly pressured about. We all know as soon as every part 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
Picture 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 powerful,” Lundqvist mentioned.
“It is extraordinarily exhausting. It is one thing that you have labored your entire life in the 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 aim proper now could be to attempt to win Indy GP and do nicely there. Then clearly there is a fast turnaround and the shifting begins, the main target begins to be shifted in the direction of the five hundred. Clearly, we have now loads of observe classes forward, which is good for me.
“You then form of digest it into smaller objectives. The primary one for me is get comfy in site visitors, then we’ll see how lengthy that takes. It’d take the entire month. Won’t even be comfy 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.”