More from the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach with 6-time Long Beach winner Al Unser, Jr, 2-time Long Beach winner Will Power, Dale Coyne Racing teammates Rinus VeeKay and Jacob Abel, and Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard

BRUCE:

This is Roger Penske and you're listening to Pit Pass Indie, sponsored by Penske Truck Rental. IndyCar fans, it's time to start your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcast. I'm your host, Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar Series. Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans an insider's view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar Series in a fast-paced podcast featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport. I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR, working for such media brands as NBCSports.com, SI.com, ESPN SportsTicker, Sports Illustrated, AutoWeek and SpeedSport. So let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy. Welcome to this special bonus edition of Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental as we continue our fifth season of giving IndyCar fans an inside look at the most exciting form of racing on the planet, the NTT IndyCar Series. And a big thanks to Penske Truck Rental for helping bring you the inside stories of IndyCar from the paddock to the racetrack to the highways and streets of America. Pit Pass Indies at the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach from April 10th to April 13th and gathered so many interviews, we had to spread them out over several episodes. On the previous Pit Pass Indy, we heard from the winning driver of this year's Long Beach Grand Prix, Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global. We also remembered Hendrick Motorsports Public Relations Executive, John Edwards, who passed away unexpectedly last week because of a sudden illness. Our thoughts and condolences to Edwards and his family, as well as Hendrick Motorsports. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is the biggest, most historic street race in North America, and has been on the Formula One, kart, and IndyCar schedules throughout its long and glorious history. This special bonus edition includes some of the biggest names in IndyCar from the past and the present at Long Beach. That includes our first guest, appropriately named the King of the Beach. It's six-time Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner and IndyCar Series great, the legendary Alunitzer Jr. In addition to his record six wins on the streets of Long Beach, Unser also won two Indianapolis 500s, including 1992 with Gallus Racing and 1994 with Team Penske. He also won the IndyCar Championship with Gallus Racing in 1990 and with Team Penske in 1994. Al Unser Jr. and the great Mario Andretti were honored at this year's 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, serving as the grand marshals for this year's race. Here is an exclusive interview with Al Unser Jr. for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. Joining us now is someone I've known for a very long time. Hate to admit it, all that means is that we're both getting old, but... That's a good thing though, Bruce. Come on. Let's keep getting older.

AL:

It's the King of the Beach.

BRUCE:

The King of the Beach. Champion. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. Former kart series champion. I just prefer to say racing legend and all-around good guy, Ellenser Jr. Al, we're out here at the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. You were the king of the beach because you won this event six times. No other driver in Formula 5000, Formula 1, kart, or Indy car has come close. How does it feel to know that of all the times that you were out here, you were the king of the beach?

AL:

Well, Bruce, thank you so much, and thanks for having us on the program. We just enjoyed Long Beach. We love Long Beach. You know, there's those racetracks that a driver goes to, that everything just kind of goes his way. And for me, Long Beach was that race. You know, I won here with two different teams, the Vavelin car with Gallus Racing, and then we came back with Penske Racing with the Marlboro car, and it's just real special times here, and we just had so much fun. It was just fun, and a lot of the reason why it was fun is because we were winning.

BRUCE:

What was it about your style that fits so well with this race course?

AL:

I don't know, because if I could have been able to identify that, I would have taken that to Toronto, Vancouver, all the other street races that we had. But I don't know. It was the atmosphere. We truly loved racing here and driving the course.

BRUCE:

Before you actually competed here, this race was already a big, big, big deal. A lot of it had to do with the fact that it was a Formula One race at one time as the home of the United States Grand Prix. And then when Kart showed up, Mario Andretti won three of the first four races. Michael Andretti had his first victory here. So when you were starting to come up, this race already had a rich heritage.

AL:

It really, truly did. And a lot of that reason is because it's the Southern California market. This is where IndyCar, prior to the Grand Prix of Long Beach, ran Ontario, and then Ontario closes down. And then after that, it was out at Riverside, and then Riverside closed down. And so this became the Southern California market for IndyCar racing, Formula One racing. And that's why it became so popular.

BRUCE:

I've always said that if you look at events in the state of California that are signature sporting events, the Rose Bowl is one of them. I would say that the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a little bit in that category as far as one-of-a-kind sporting events in the state of California.

AL:

I totally agree with you. This race is, as a matter of fact, as far as popularity on the IndyCar circuit, next to the Indy 500, this is the most popular race for IndyCar.

BRUCE:

It's also the greatest street race in North America, probably the greatest street race in all the world. The Monaco Grand Prix is probably Number one, we don't know if there's a future with Formula One, because there has been talk about has Formula One outgrown that race course. And if that ever went away, this would have to be the world's greatest street race.

AL:

Well, you know, I've always said that because of the Monaco Grand Prix is your first city street race. And it was it was a standalone. If that's the father, of street racing. The Long Beach Grand Prix is the mother of street racing and so I just hope these two, Monaco and Long Beach, keep going well into the future.

BRUCE:

And as we look down on the race course, a lot of the processes and systems that go into city street races were created here. The jersey barriers, the temporary concrete, Barriers, the temporary fencing, those were all designed from the very first race, which is a Formula 5000 race in 1975. And the fact that they've been doing it for so long, they've already amateurized the cost of all of this. So I think that's one of the reasons why this is such a big business success.

AL:

Yeah, actually, I totally agree with you in that this was the beginning of street racing in North America and, you know, they saw the success of the Long Beach Grand Prix and they tried to duplicate it elsewhere in North America, but they've never had the success that this place has had.

BRUCE:

I'm sure when you were a kid and you came out here, or your first couple of Acura Grand Prix's at Long Beach, which back then was the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Skyline didn't look anything like this. In fact, when they held the first race in 1975, Long Beach was a Navy town. It was longshoremen. It was a lot of flophouses and maybe even X-rated movie theaters. Now you look at it and this is a destination city in Southern California. And a lot of that goes to the exposure that this race gave this city. So in a lot of ways the race helped build these skyscrapers.

AL:

I totally agree that with the Long Beach Grand Prix and the city of Long Beach have a relationship, a working relationship that help each other and I think that that is the reason why all these great big condominium buildings have been raised because it's definitely a place to be. It's beautiful here.

BRUCE:

You're going to be honored on race day or all weekend you're going to be honored along with Mario Andretti. Mario's a racing legend. To be honored with him has got to be a big honor. How fitting is it that you and Mario will both be up there to help celebrate the 50th Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach?

AL:

I think it's great. I love hanging out with Mario. He's definitely a character that my family, I grew up with, and him being teammates with my dad, with Velzen Parnelli, Jones racing, and all that kind of stuff. And, you know, we've known our families have known each other for for many many years and and uh and for us to go up and and for us both of us to have the success that we did here at Long Beach and then to be honored is is a great honor and and I love being next to him.

BRUCE:

And when you think that Mario Andretti is the only driver that won here in a Formula One race. And then he won three Kart IndyCar Series races. That's a feat that won't be duplicated because Formula One doesn't run at Long Beach anymore.

AL:

No doubt. I mean, he's a true legend.

BRUCE:

Now looking ahead, the month of May is getting closer and closer. You know what the month of May means to you. You know what the month of May means to all of us race fans. How excited are you for the 109th Indianapolis 500? I hear it's getting closer and closer to being a sellout.

AL:

Yeah, it's great. You know, what Roger Penske has done for this sport is just amazing. I knew that it was only just a matter of time for him to really polish this thing up and IndyCar racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And so, you know, hats off to Roger and the whole Penske family for really truly help in the sport of IndyCar racing.

BRUCE:

So what is Al Unser Jr. doing these days?

AL:

Um, not a whole lot. I do some appearances every now and then. I do Grand Marshall events like we're doing here. And, uh, just enjoying retirement. I do a little bit of stuff with Vintage Indy, which takes vintage Indy cars to selected Indy car races. And they get out on the track only in exhibition kind of scenario. They don't race each other. They just get out and let the fans show the history of what IndyCar is and where they are today.

BRUCE:

You always show up at the Indianapolis 500 and the fans still cheer you and love you and just how cool of a feeling is that?

AL:

Oh, we love getting out there on race day morning and going around in the pace car and doing the victory lap and getting in some of those old vintage Indy cars and making laps in those. You know, I've driven Floyd's winner, I've driven my dad's several of his winners, and I drove Uncle Bobby's winner a couple years ago. And so it's great to get out there race day morning and just see all the fans that come back to the greatest spectacle in racing.

BRUCE:

Well, Al Unser Jr., you're certainly a legend. You're certainly a champion. And we've known each other so long. I consider you a good friend. And welcome back to Long Beach. Welcome back to the Indianapolis 500 next month. Enjoy retirement. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. Thanks, Bruce. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

WILL:

This is Will Power of Team Penske, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

BRUCE:

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. Our next guest is a two-time winning driver of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. It's Team Penske's Will Power, who won the final race in Champ Car Series history at Long Beach in 2008 when he was racing for KV Racing Technology. He also drove to another big Long Beach victory with Team Penske in 2012. Power is a two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, the winner of the 2018 Indianapolis 500, IndyCar's all-time pole winner with 70, and the fourth winningest IndyCar driver of all time with 44 wins. Here is my exclusive PitPass Indy interview with Power before the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. My neighbor's back once again here on Pit Pass Indy. It's Will Power of Team Penske. Will, we're at the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. It's one of the highlights of the season and also one of the most legendary races in motorsports. You've played a big role in this race. How does it feel to be here for a milestone event like the 50th?

WILL:

Um, it, uh, I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll be a massive crowd. It's always a cool race, always a great atmosphere, and it's a very, uh, very fun track, so I'm, uh, I'm stoked to be here.

BRUCE:

From a challenging standpoint, this race course, how challenging is it from a driver perspective? Because historically, we haven't seen a lot of passing here, but it really does reward The team, the driver, the car, the pit crew, everybody.

WILL:

It is actually it's crazy how tight the field is at this track. It's difficult because the track is it doesn't feel straightforward, but it just blows my mind. The whole field's covered by like one second. And, you know, I expect that to even be tighter this year. It's just such a tough field. The passing, yeah, I think there'll be more with this softer red tyre or green tyre, whatever they're calling it this weekend, because I think it will degrade more. Maybe the strategies will be a bit more mixed up, but yeah, we'll see. I know what you mean by the passing thing. I've been trying to get IndyCar to have a no-reply push-to-pass system, so that would promote a lot of passing.

BRUCE:

I've been coming to this race since the early 90s. I've been following it since the very beginning in 1975. But one of the years that always stands out to me is 2009 when you showed up driving Elio's car. He got acquitted from his court case down in Miami, Florida. You had to yield the car back over to LAO, but team Penske brought another car for you. You jumped in another car and still had a really good qualifying and a really good race. And that ended up, you parlayed that into a full-time ride with team Penske in 2010. So just how important of a weekend was that for Will Power's career?

WILL:

It was, that was a big deal. One, to get pole position. Two, to finish on the podium. And I guess three to do that with a team that was just quickly put together in a car that they bought and I was at the very back of pit lane. Those are the weekends you remember, pretty cool.

BRUCE:

Some of your other favorites here, you've always been a threat for victory. And just what are some of the other highlights that you look back here at Long Beach?

WILL:

Winning the last champ car race was really cool in 2008. I think in 12 I won it again. You know, I've had some great races here, some podiums. I'd love to get another win, though. That would be amazing. I really would. It's so hard these days, but, you know, just keep working hard like I am. It could happen.

BRUCE:

After Long Beach, we have Easter, and then the week after Easter, everybody loads up and heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a two-day Indy 500 open test. How do you begin to explain how important that two-day test is in preparation of the month of May when everybody returns for real at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

WILL:

I think all the work has been done, and that would be the case, I would say, for 90% of the team. So kind of just shaking down the car. I don't know if we'll get an indication of where, you know, where everyone lies on speed. I know that we've worked hard again. I feel like we left last year in a very good position and sort of built upon that, but everyone else would be also working hard. So I don't know how it's going to play out, but I feel like we'll be real competitive.

BRUCE:

So is the two day open test where teams work on the big things and then when they return for practice for the Indianapolis 500, they tweak it?

WILL:

I think we'll be, we'll definitely be sort of seeing how it feels in traffic with the heavier car, how you use the hybrid system. It looks like they've got a session for qualifying, which would be nice. So you can sort of try to work out the strategy for the hybrid. But yeah, kind of just straightforward stuff.

BRUCE:

And always with having the entire field that's going to compete in the Indianapolis 500, It's more than the 27 car field you race against every weekend. It's going to be the 33, who knows, this year 34, maybe 35, haven't really checked the entry list lately. But to have everybody that's going to be back there in May, how valuable is that? Because there's a lot of drivers you haven't been on the same track with for a while.

WILL:

Yeah, yeah. I think for those guys that aren't full-season drivers, it's very critical. It's a daunting place. Yeah, you certainly got to understand the speeds and the risks involved and get yourself comfortable. So, yeah, you know, it is good for everyone to be out there together and start to get a feel for it.

BRUCE:

This interview will air after the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, so we really only have two races to talk about so far this season. We know that the first race of the year didn't go well for you at all. The entire weekend didn't go well. So what do you have to do to rebound? If you win the Indianapolis 500, I'm sure that would be just the charge of the surge that the team would need to have a turnaround season in 2025.

WILL:

Yes. Winning the Indy 500 would definitely be an amazing thing to happen. And it's very possible, very possible. But kind of do what we did at Thermal. Improve qualifying will be a big deal. See if we can get in the, for starters, in the top 12 or the top six this weekend. Man, if you qualify in the top six, you have a shot at the win. Top four, you really have a shot at the win. So, yeah, that's the goal.

BRUCE:

Do you look forward to the month of May? Not so much because obviously it's the month of the Indianapolis 500, but that really starts race after race after race after race. There are no long gaps in the schedule. Once the month of May happens, you're pretty much racing three out of four weekends through the rest of the year. I, um, yes. Or I should say the rest of the season.

WILL:

I really, really don't mind that, you know, back to back to back, just keep rolling, you know, so you get on a, get on a, get on a bit of a roll and then you can just keep getting those results. But yeah, it is going to be crazy busy from the month of May to the end.

BRUCE:

Now, business question. You've hired Oriol Servia to be your manager. He's part of Fernando Alonso's Management group, can you give us an update on where things stand for a new contract at Team Penske?

WILL:

Yeah, nothing has changed. Obviously still very early in the season and just focusing on the racing stuff right now and after May I think that's when Yeah, we'll start talking about what we might do.

BRUCE:

Has that made it easier for you to focus on driving and not have to worry about trying to strike a deal because you have somebody doing that for you?

WILL:

Yes, it has. That's kind of the reason I did it. I just wanted... I don't, man, I like to enjoy my racing anyway and just let it see what happens and have Oriol deal with all that stuff.

BRUCE:

And what was it about Oriol that made you decide this is a guy that I think can do a good job for me negotiating with Team Penske?

WILL:

Well, Oriol knows everyone in the paddock. Fernando Alonso knows everyone in Europe and also over here and has a very big name in motorsport. And, you know, the two... Between those two, I think it was just, I think it was the perfect timing for me. You know, I'd spoken to Aurel before, I never really thought of having a manager, but I think, I wish I'd done it a while ago, but, you know, it's not really... To me, I felt like I was never in the situation where I needed someone sort of shopping around or anything like that. But yeah, it just takes a bit of pressure off.

BRUCE:

I know you're still as fast as ever. I'm sure that you also want to get out there and show a lot of people you're still as fast as ever. A racer's career has a limited amount of years. You've been able to do it into your 40s. But is it a situation when you near, for any athlete, when they get to this point in their career, you gotta take advantage of it while you can?

WILL:

You've got to perform no matter what. I mean, you know, that's the thing. You get to this age and they expect you to drop off. And I think the drop off comes from not doing the work you should do and sort of becoming complacent. And that's when you see guys do it. And I guess that's why the age thing gets a bit of a bad name. But I can tell you that I am at the best I have ever been. I know that. And if things go right, I know I'll be at the very front. I know that. I've never stopped studying, working, and working at it. Still as quick as I was from the first day I got here, but I've got so much more experience.

BRUCE:

We'll empower those of us who have followed your career know how fast you are and how committed you are to racing. But good luck in that quest to get a new contract. Good luck the rest of the 2025 IndyCar Series season. Good luck at the 109th Indianapolis 500. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. Thanks Bruce. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

SCOTT:

Hi, I'm Scott McLaughlin, driver of the number three team Penske Chevy, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

BRUCE:

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. We have two guests for the price of one in our next segment. It's Dale Coyne Racing teammates, Rinus Veekay and rookie driver, Jacob Abel. Both join me for this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview at Long Beach. We have a dynamic duo next. It's the Dale Coyne Racing drivers, Rinus Veekay and Jacob Abel. From time to time, we have done dual interviews before, but here we are at the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Jacob, it's gonna be your first Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Just what do you think of the event in general and the fact that being here on an important milestone race like the 50th year of the greatest street race in North America?

JACOB:

Yeah, I'm definitely excited for it. Obviously, it's my first time here, so I'll let Rinus speak to the history of it a little bit more. But yeah, it's obviously a super iconic race. It's one of the ones that's always circled on the calendar that everybody wants to have a good result at. I'm excited that it's going to be my first time here. Obviously, it's a street course. pretty treacherous, not much room for error, but I'm excited to get it underway and for my now, you know, third IndyCar race to just keep building on the experience that we've gained and hopefully get a good result.

BRUCE:

And Rinus, your thoughts on being here? When you look at the names of the winners that have won this race, it's the greats of the greats in auto racing history.

RINUS:

Oh, yes, that's true. I've I mean, if you win this race, you're you're probably going to win a lot more in your life. So I actually shook Al Anser Jr.' 's hand this morning. So that's like two tens in the back right there. No, but I mean, this is, this is without a question, the biggest IndyCar race outside the 500 in the season. So I think everybody's very excited. It's a totally different scene than where we usually race with the East Coast, everything. So always very exciting. And I mean, Being a Honda driver for the first time, being here on the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach, it's pretty cool. I've done some pretty cool stuff so far and I'm excited to get going and get a feel of how it's going to be.

BRUCE:

Marinus, you spent a lot of years with ECR in a Chevrolet, now you're with Dale Coyne Racing. How would you assess the way your transition has gone with the team?

RINUS:

I mean, it's gone really well, especially with the fairly short notice I've gotten. Even though things were looking good on paper, mostly off-season, I think the start's been pretty smooth. Of course, we're still learning as a team. It's not just me that's new, it's also Jacob, it's the engineers, it's most of the team, except the mechanics, I guess. We're still learning, but I think, yeah, so far so good. And I think we've kind of outdone ourselves so far this season. So, you know, we're getting more used to each other now. So things would go better and better even. So I think it would be fair to say we should be aiming for another top 10 this weekend. And Jacob, it's your rookie season in IndyCar.

BRUCE:

How would you assess the first two races of your career?

JACOB:

Yeah, I think, you know, you always want more as a race car driver unless you won both of the races. You know, I think it's been good because I've done all of the laps in both races. We've got a ton of experience and that's all we can really ask for. You know, I think St. Pete and Thermal were both a little bit of different stories to one another. I think Thermal, we actually had some pretty solid pace, and we're on for a pretty decent result there. Unfortunately, we just had a mechanical, whereas St. Pete, you know, we were lacking pace a little bit. So I'm ready to kind of combine those, you know, have a clean race again here in Long Beach, and really just try and extract the most out of it, especially in terms of laps and everything on offer.

BRUCE:

Jacob, you and Rinus are relatively the same age. How does that help in communication and just being comfortable working with each other?

JACOB:

Yeah, I kind of forget that a lot of the times, you know, because he's had, I think, five years in IndyCar now. So it is very helpful, though. He's very open and willing to share. I think, you know, we're both part of a smaller organization. So it's everyone needs to pull together all of their knowledge and resources as much as they can for us to succeed. And I think that leads us to having a little bit of more of an open book of knowledge throughout the whole entire camp.

BRUCE:

And Rinus, how would you assess the rookie over here, Jacob Abel?

RINUS:

No, I think he's doing really good so far. I mean, number one priority as a rookie is keep the thing, you know, shiny, shiny part up and get to the finish every time. That's how you learn. I mean, his St. Pete was, you know, a learning experience. Thermal, you know, he was quicker than Palo at one point. So I think he, you know, he's really showing pace like he did in Indie Next. Things just need to go his way. I think having a race with a few yellows will help him to getting some strategy and then just really, really being able to push in moments when it's needed. So I'm sure Long Beach will create some yellows for us and we'll have a good weekend.

BRUCE:

Well, you're about to get called up to the stage for another part of the program. So, Renis VK, Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing, good luck in the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season, and thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Yeah, thank you very much. Thank you. Let's wrap up today's show with Christian Lungaard of Arrow McLaren Racing. After breaking into IndyCar with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Lungaard is off to a great start to the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season with two straight third place finishes, including the Thermal Club on March 23rd and the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13th. Before the action began at Long Beach, Lungar joined me for this exclusive Pit Pass Indie interview. An old friend has stopped by. It's Christian Lungaard of Arrow McLaren Racing. Christian, we're here at the 50th Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach, but coming up after this weekend will be the Indy 500 Open Test. Very important two-day test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Just how important is it for the drivers and for the teams that are all gonna compete in the 109th Indianapolis 500?

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I mean, the Open Test is the first time we really get to fire it off and see what we really got for the month of May. You know, at the end of the day, it's always a privilege to drive around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That was the first place I got to drive the Errol McLaren car. So I feel like I have high hopes, high expectations going into this year's Indy 500 and hopefully being able to deliver a good result for the team and for myself.

BRUCE:

Errol McLaren has shown that they have one of the fastest cars at the speedway. And that has to give you great confidence, especially after seeing what Pat O'Ward has been able to do in the last couple of Indianapolis 500s, especially last year when he could have won the race except for the final two turns.

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I mean, you know, at the end of the day, that was one of the motivators for me to join the team regardless. Right. Where I've been the past few years has not been been the positions I want to I want to fight for seeing where McLaren has been at the Speedway. and nevertheless at any other track, right? I think we've done well for the start of the season. I think it's built a lot of momentum for us going into Long Beach, going into the Open Test, the GP and obviously the month of May. But seeing what the team has been able to accomplish and Yes, it's been first loser. Obviously, we want to change that. I think we have three good shots out of this year, so we'll see what we can do.

BRUCE:

Back for the Indianapolis 500 for the second year in a row, and Errol McLaren is going to be NASCAR star Kyle Larson. What's it going to be like working with him for the first time?

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, I've had to adjust to two new teammates, why not just three? I think the addition of Kyle for me to get to experience what his thoughts are on IndyCar versus NASCAR, the difference in driving style, the difference in the type of racing. Obviously, we don't do as much pack racing as I think we would sometimes want to. I think we see that on short ovals, which is always cool, but the super speedways are tough. I think he put down an extraordinary showing in 2024. He's definitely a guy to look out for.

BRUCE:

I don't know how much you watch NASCAR, but when you do, is he a guy that you follow, see how he's doing in the race, maybe pick up a few things that he does, because he seems to be one of these drivers that can race anything to the front.

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I mean, I think following Kyle's career specifically, we've seen everything he's raced, and he's been competitive in everything. So, you know, and I think that just proves the performance that he pulled off last year. He's just that good. I wouldn't really necessarily say that I watched that much NASCAR. I think I watched the Daytona 500 the last couple of years, and I think there's specific races. that I've watched. I didn't watch last weekend, I didn't watch the weekend before. Also just knowing that they're basically racing every single weekend.

BRUCE:

Tony Kanaan is the sporting director of Errol McLaren. What has it been like working with him so far?

CHRISTIAN:

It's good. I think TK's great. He's in good shape for leading the team. I think he has a lot of knowledge. for the drivers, and he understands the business. So for him to run the team, I think it's just a great addition and a great upgrade for all of us.

BRUCE:

When you have Pato Award as your teammate, you know there's going to be a lot of times where you can sneak through the paddock because Pato's the one that everybody seems to chase after. Does that help you stay under the radar a little bit in terms of when you want to get something done? I'm sure there are some times you want to be recognized by the fans, but with Pato, he's going to pretty much be the

CHRISTIAN:

the Pied Piper of the panic. I sure do feel a lot more seen in Papaya than previously. But no, I mean, it's... We know Pata's fan base is huge. I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm able to go under the radar. At the end of the day, I think it's always nice to be stopped, but there are times when it isn't nice, right? I think overall it's just focusing on yourself. I think Pato and I are leaning on each other from a performance standpoint. He's a character, I'm a character by myself and you have to live your own life too.

BRUCE:

So it's the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Some of the greats in racing history have raced on this race course. You've done it the last couple of years. Just what do you think of this event? It is easily the second biggest race on the IndyCar Series schedule and in a lot of ways it is one of the most famous street races in the world.

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I think Long Beach is always one of the races that I think we all look forward to going to. Racing around the fountain, basically without a wall around it. You can go swimming pretty quickly. We saw Paggino a couple of years ago stuck in the flowers. But I think it's more the history around this race that makes it so special. I had a couple of friends out here doing the two-seaters about three weeks ago, leading up to the race doing the, I guess it was called Formula Drift, or whatever it was called, when they were out here and, you know, they start a month early. And it's a huge build-up to the race, a little like the month of May with the GP building into the 500s. And I think it's just great for the fans. I love street circuits in general. It makes it so much nicer for fans and a lot easier to be around.

BRUCE:

When you think of the greats of the greats that have raced here, and the legends that have won here, does it sometimes even amaze you that the quality of racers that have been in this event, it's like a hall of fame of racing?

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, you look at half the tracks that we already race on, everybody has raced on, right? So, I think it's the special moments and highlights that happen here. Some great moments happen, and yeah, I think that's really what's always being remembered.

BRUCE:

As far as this is a time of the year where everything is getting closer to the Indianapolis 500. Yeah, we've got the open test and we've got the race at Barber. But yet, are you starting to get the feeling that Indy is clicking away on the calendar that's going to be here before we know it?

CHRISTIAN:

You feel that before the season already starts. I mean, it's from the get-go. It's the build-up. You see the cars in the shop being fine-tuned. Being gently massaged to have the best performance for the month of May. And every race we go to, it's a preparation for that. But again, the key is to stay locked in for the rest of the season following the 500.

BRUCE:

Do you feel the synergy between Aero McLaren's IndyCar team and the success that McLaren's Formula One team has been having lately?

CHRISTIAN:

I think a huge shout out to SAC and the entire Formula 1 team, in my opinion, for where they were, I guess it's around 20 months ago now, to winning the Constructors last year and winning the first race, winning the second race, obviously missing out in Japan, but it puts a lot of pressure on us too. We obviously wanted to get a double 1-2 from thermal. We didn't get it, but at the end of the day, having four McLaren cars on the podium in one weekend was pretty special. It was the first time Aaron McLaren locked out the front row in qualifying, and we're here to repeat that. I think me, Paddo, and Nolan are very determined to get the best results possible.

BRUCE:

And in our final question, Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren Racing, just the determination factor, you already brought it up, but how determined are you that this is going to be the year where the fans at the Indianapolis 500 are going to see you racing up front, leading the Indianapolis 500, maybe even winning it?

CHRISTIAN:

Yeah, I think there's been a big build-up from my own side, just working with the team pre-season and seeing where the team's been in the past, obviously gives me a lot of encouragement going into the month of May and seeing what we can do, obviously. I think having fought in the mid to the end of the pack, I think I've learned a lot just in terms of learning how to race against people and with people and now, Hopefully having a chance to fight for the winner or top position is really where I want to be and that's been my only virtue this entire season. I'm not specifically looking at wins, of course I want to win all races, but for me it's about being competitive at every single race weekend. If we can be competitive at the month of May, I think we have a shot at winning it.

BRUCE:

I lied, I got one last question. The Indy GP on the IMS road course, your first IndyCar race was on that track. You've always qualified very well there. You've raced well there. How excited are you for that to really kick off the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Go and win it. Can't say that any better. That's a good way to sum it up. But Christian Lungaard, Aaron McLaren, good luck coming up here for the month of May and all the other IndyCar races that go on in the 2025 season. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you. And that puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. We want to thank our guests, IndyCar legend and King of the Beach, Al Unser Jr., Team Penske star Will Power, Dale Coyne Racing teammates Renas VK and rookie Jacob Abel, and Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lungaard for joining us on this special bonus edition of Pit Pass Indy. Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests help make Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, your path to victory lane in IndyCar. On the highways, the raceways, and every pit stop in between, Penske Truck Rental keeps you moving forward. Gain ground with Penske. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at X, previously known as Twitter, at BruceMartin, one word, uppercase B, uppercase M, underscore 500. All of us at PitPass Indy wish everyone a happy Easter. This has been a production of Evergreen Podcast. A special thanks to our production team, executive producers are Bridget Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin, and final mixing was done by Dave Douglas. Learn more at evergreenpodcast.com. Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.