Linus Lundqvist scored a podium as the 2022 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship burst into life this weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg…
Lundqvist was instantly on the pace around the Florida city-centre venue, leading the way in opening practice.
The three-time Indy Lights race winner then sealed a slot on the front row of the grid in qualifying, going second fastest despite an alternator failure halfway through the session.
The Swede, racing for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing, had appeared on course for pole position for a large proportion of qualifying, only to be denied in the very dying seconds by a final flyer from Andretti Autosport’s Hunter McElrea.
Lundqvist duly entered Sunday’s season-opening race in victory contention, but slipped down the order to sixth at the start, forced to run wide at Turn 1 to avoid contact with another car.
He quickly reclaimed fifth a few corners later, and then took advantage of rivals McElrea crashing out and Christian Rasmussen running into late trouble to seal a podium for third place.
“It’s a good start to the season, all things considered,” says Linus Lundqvist. “The race got away from us at the first corner – I had nowhere to go when another car came storming down the inside. I got out of it all in fifth, and then I was quite a lot quicker than the cars ahead, but unfortunately it’s hard to overtake around here.
“We were a little lucky to draw on other people’s misfortune today, but that’s street racing for you and we’ll definitely take this podium.”
Lundqvist – driving with a blue and yellow ribbon in support of the Ukrainian people – eventually finished 3.7 seconds behind race winner Matthew Brabham (Andretti Autosport).
“All in all, it’s been a good first event,” Linus Lundqvist concludes. “We’ve had strong pace throughout, and we know from last year that this isn’t our best circuit. To come away from here with a podium, on what wasn’t our best day, goes to prove that we’re on a high level. I’m looking forward to the next race at Barber, where we were very quick last year, and I think we’re well-placed for another strong season.”
The 2022 Indy Lights campaign continues at Barber Motorsports Park – where Lundqvist won on his series debut last year – on 1 May.
RESULTS
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Rd. 1 | St. Petersburg (USA)
1: Matthew Brabham (AUS), 45 laps
2: Benjamin Pedersen (DEN), +2.472s
3: Linus Lundqvist (SWE), +3.717s
4: Sting Ray Robb (USA), +4.647s
5: Danial Frost (SGP), +9.632s
View full results
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Top 5 | After 1/14 races
1: Matthew Brabham (AUS), 51 p.
2: Benjamin Pedersen (DEN), 40 p.
3: Linus Lundqvist (SWE), 35 p.
4: Sting Ray Robb (USA), 32 p.
5: Danial Frost (SGP), 30 p.
