Arrow McLaren prepared to part ways with Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel
· Yahoo Sports
LEXINGTON, OH – Arrow McLaren's IndyCar driver lineup will officially be different in 2027. A source told IndyStar that the team notified Christian Lundgaard — who has a team option for next year — that he's free to negotiate with other teams, despite his contract's exclusive negotiating window not having expired. It has also let its other pending free agent, Nolan Siegel, know that he won't be back next year.
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Despite Lundgaard misspseaking Friday and saying that he's not allowed to speak with other teams, Arrow McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan gave Lundgaard a letter this week freeing him and his management to negotiate elsewhere. Lundgaard can't sign a contract with another team until Arrow McLaren officially declines the team option, which is expected in the coming days.
Lundgaard is currently fourth in the IndyCar standings with two wins and four podiums through 10 races this season. The Danish driver won IndyCar's Grand Prix at Road America, and is on the pole for Sunday's Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Lundgaard's run with the team will end after two years, as he placed fifth in IndyCar's championship in 2025 despite not winning a race. Lundgaard, who turns 25 in 18 days, drove for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing from 2021 to 2024.
With rumors swirling that Arrow McLaren could sign Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist to join forces with Pato O'Ward — who's starting Sunday's race beside Lundgaard on the front row — the team has made it official that two new drivers will be O'Ward's teammates in 2027.
Siegel is in his third season with Arrow McLaren after joining the team to drive its No. 6 car in the middle of the 2024 season, which saw three drivers pilot the No. 6 entry. Kanaan made it public before the season that if Siegel — who's 21st in the standings — didn't finish in the top 10, he would likely be on his way out.
Now, Lundgaard and Siegel know their fate, although Lundgaard has not officially been told he won't be back. Lundgaard should be one of the hottest names on the market, with Dixon's seat at Chip Ganassi Racing open, Rosenqvist's seat at Meyer Shank Racing open and uncertainty around Marcus Ericsson's seat at Andretti Global.
Arrow McLaren is in search of an Indy 500 championship and IndyCar championship, two trophies it hasn't been able to win since McLaren bought a stake in the team in 2020 before gaining full ownership in 2024. Kanaan and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown have decided that Lundgaard and Siegel aren't the drivers to get them over that hump, and now neither driver is expected to wear papaya next year.
Speculation of a major shakeup had been brewing for weeks, and it appears the team has decided to shift its full-time driver lineup, which has been the same for the past two seasons.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Arrow McLaren prepared to part ways with Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel