Linus Lundqvist leapt a big step closer to the 2022 Indy Lights championship title with a crushing victory on the streets of Nashville, leading from start to finish en route to his fifth win of the year…
Never headed throughout Sunday’s 35-lap race in Tennessee, Lundqvist extends his championship lead in INDYCAR’s main feeder series from 77 to 95 points with just four races to go.
Lundqvist started the race from his sixth pole position of the season, which on this occasion was automatically handed to him when a thunderstorm caused the cancellation of qualifying and the grid instead was set by virtue of championship standings.
Lundqvist’s de facto pace advantage emerged clear for everyone to see in the race, however, as he gradually pulled away from his pursuers to eventually win by 7.2 seconds.
“It’s a very rewarding, and very important, win today,” says Linus Lundqvist. “I was actually a bit sad that we didn’t get to run qualifying – I think that would have been a cool experience at this track – but anyway, we started on pole and were able to build a gap. From there, it was all about just managing the lead and the tyres, and it was pretty much a perfect race for us.”
Lundqvist becomes the inaugural Indy Lights winner at the Nashville street course, which made its debut on the series’ calendar this weekend. The Swedish HMD Motorsports driver also won twice at the comparable Detroit street track earlier this year.
“I love street tracks, and I’ve really enjoyed myself this weekend here in Nashville,” Linus Lundqvist concludes. “It’s a tough and demanding track, very bumpy just like Detroit, and you can’t afford any big mistakes. I’m proud to become the first Indy Lights winner here and add my name to the history books in that sense.
“Big thanks to the team for giving me a great car today, and to my sponsor FX Airguns who fittingly came to see this very race live. I couldn’t be happier to celebrate with them!”
With his latest victory, Lundqvist edges ever-closer to yet another international single-seater title. The 23-year-old has previously won three other championships: Sweden’s Formula STCC Nordic, British Formula 3, and Formula Regional Americas.
Indy Lights returns to racing at the Gateway oval on Saturday, August 20.
RESULTS
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Rd. 10 | Nashville
1: Linus Lundqvist (SWE), 35 laps
2: Sting Ray Robb (USA), +7.222s
3: Hunter McElrea (NZL), +10.394s
4: Matthew Brabham (AUS), +16.376s
5: Christian Rasmussen (DEN), +25.639s
View full results
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Top 5 | After 10/14 races
1: Linus Lundqvist (SWE), 436 p.
2: Hunter McElrea (NZL), 341 p.
3: Sting Ray Robb (USA), 333 p.
4: Matthew Brabham (AUS), 321 p.
5: Christian Rasmussen (DEN), 302 p.
