Fastest qualifier at the Grand Prix of Portland, Christian Lundgaard, has poured cold water on suggestions he will help team-mate Pato O’Ward in Sunday’s race.
Christian Lundgaard enjoyed a competitive weekend at the Grand Prix of Portland ahead of qualifying on Saturday.
Leading Friday’s first practice session and finishing in the top ten after second practice, the McLaren driver looked to be one of the drivers to beat.
However, an unauthorised engine change ahead of qualifying landed Lundgaard a six-place grid penalty. He would need to take pole position to minimise the damage to his weekend.
The Dane duly delivered, taking pole in the dying seconds of qualifying. His penalty sees him lining up sixth for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland, alongside title rival Alex Palou.
Speaking in the post-qualifying press conference, Christian Lundgaard admitted he did not expect to qualify on pole.
“Yeah, I did not expect that. After yesterday having the pace, obviously being P1 on both tyres in practice one, obviously you’re optimistic going nto qualifying day.
“In a sense I just caught up on a little bit of what Pato said there. He gained some pace from practice two going into qualifying. I almost felt like it was the opposite way for me from yesterday to today. I felt really good yesterday and struggled a little more today with basically no changes in the car overnight.
“It feels like a big surprise in a sense. Obviously happy that we got it for the team and it’s another 1-2 from a qualifying position standpoint. Obviously not the start. We found an issue on the engine yesterday so we had to change it. Thanks to Chevy for finding that.
Christian Lundgaard to run his own race at Grand Prix of Portland
Asked if he would help team-mate Pato O’Ward out in the race, Christian Lundgaard delivered a blunt response.
The Dane shot down any suggestions of assisting the Mexican, and reiterated his priority for his own championship.
“Yeah, ultimately I’m fighting for my own championship. That’s really where my priorities lie.
If I have a chance of passing Alex, I will. But it’s not to help Pato. At the end of the day it’s not how we race.
Lundgaard also confirmed that he set his fastest time on a used set of red tyres, leaving him and the rest of the top six with strategy options in the race.
“No. I think all of us used the new set. I think all of us did. I think everybody in the Fast Six used the third set.”
