- Indy Lights field heads to World Wide Technology Raceway
- Championship leader continues to pursue first oval win
With a commanding victory, Linus Lundqvist extended his lead atop the Indy Lights championship standings last time out in Nashville. Always keen for more, the rapid Swede is aiming high once again as the INDYCAR support series sets camp at World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend for the last oval event of 2022.
With five wins to his tally so far this season, Lundqvist has established a healthy 95-point lead over nearest challenger Hunter McElrea with just four races remaining, strengthening his quest to become the first Swedish driver in history to clinch the coveted Indy Lights title.
Heading into this weekend’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway – commonly known as the “Gateway” oval for its location on the Illinois/Missouri border – Lundqvist, however, has no plans to ease off.
“We had a really strong test at Gateway last week, so I’m confident heading there,” says Linus Lundqvist. “Especially the race simulations we did were very competitive. It’s a difficult track to overtake on – there is only really one lane – so qualifying will be crucial this weekend. That’s where we need to focus in practice. If we can start up ahead, I’m sure we’ll be able to keep a very high pace.”
To complicate the fine balance between race and qualifying speed this weekend, cars will be held in parc fermé conditions after the end of qualifying, meaning only minor set-up changes can be made. Tuning a car too heavily towards qualifying performance, therefore, can come with heavy repercussions on race day.
For Lundqvist, perhaps the main source of motivation this weekend is the fact he remains in search of a career-first oval victory. This is despite the HMD Motorsports youngster taking an on-the-road win at the latest oval event in Iowa last month, as a post-race penalty subsequently stripped him of the victory.
Furthermore, World Wide Technology Raceway – the site of this weekend’s race – marked the scene of Lundqvist’s maiden oval appearance exactly one year ago.
It was a highly promising debut, with the Swede lining up fourth and appearing set for an immediate podium; only for a spectacular 300 km/h tyre blow-out to send him crashing violently into the wall. In practice, the incident ruled Lundqvist out of contention for the 2021 Indy Lights title.
“The ovals have been a bit mean to me, but the pace is clearly there as evidenced last time out in Iowa where we actually won the race on the track,” Linus Lundqvist concludes. “After that race, I feel like I’ve got nothing more to prove. I don’t really have the same urge to win on an oval, because I feel like the message itself has come across. I know I can do it, and so does everybody else.
“Having said that, it would still be something nice to formally have on paper – a clear-cut oval win to add to my road and street course ones. In that sense, it very much remains a motivating factor and a clear target of mine.”
Indy Lights running begins at Gateway on Friday with a single practice session, followed by qualifying later in the afternoon. The race takes place on Saturday. Streaming of all sessions is available through the INDYCAR Live! online platform.
TIME TABLE
All times local (U.S. Central)
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Rd. 11 | World Wide Technology Raceway
Friday 19 August
Practice: 2:10-3:00 pm
Qualifying: 5:15-5:45 pm
Saturday 20 August
Race: 3:15 pm
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.
View full standings
ENTRY LIST
View entry list here
STREAMING & TIMING
racecontrol.indycar.com
INDYCAR Live!
UPDATES & RESULTS
www.linuslundqvistracing.se
LL Facebook | LL Instagram
FURTHER INFORMATION
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing
