Chip Ganassi Racing’s Linus Lundqvist, driver of the No.8 Be The One American Legion Honda says that the result Barber Motorsports Park last time out where he scored his first podium, coming home in third place.
Speaking to Paddock Eye during a conference call ahead of this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix of Indianapolis, the Swede said:
I think a little bit of what we touched on before. I think firstly it was kind of a sign and receipt that when things click with me and the team, we’re going to be right up there. Obviously we struggled a little bit, especially from one-lap pace. I still have quite a little bit to unlock yet. But it was a good feeling that when I’m happy with the car and the car is in a good place, I’m performing, we’re going to be as good as anybody out there, which is nice.
As well, it was good for the guys in the 8 crew to be back on the podium. Obviously I wouldn’t say it was a regular occurrence the last couple years, but they’ve been up there multiple times. Now the next step is to try to bring them back to the top step.
Lundqvist will make his Indianapolis 500 debut later this month and speaking to Paddock Eye about having three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti helping him get up to speed, Lundqvist said:
Dario, man, he’s great in every way, shape or form. Firstly he’s just a fun guy to be around. When it comes to race situations, anything you have, any questions, you have a slight wonder about it, he knows the answer to it. It’s incredible.
It happens so many, many times over the past couple of weekends where I’m feeling a little bit lost. You ask him, Hey, I’m struggling with this. He takes a look at it and will give you a straight answer as well. He’ll tell you whether he thinks it’s you, something to improve in the car or something for you to try.
It’s been a great, great resource. Obviously for the 500, we’ve already started doing some work for that. You can just tell the amount of experience, knowledge that he has.
I’m just slowly, steadily picking his brain trying to retain all the information. We’ll see what we can do. He’s been a great help.
Linus has two teammate’s who won the Indy GP here last season in Alex Palou and Scott Dixon.
Speaking to Paddock Eye about this, Lundqvist said:
The things I can learn from them is too long to touch on here (smiling).
They have had tremendous success. I think they won both races here last year, with Alex in the spring, Scott at the second race. They know how to win around that place. Then obviously the data and the video. We’re going to chat to them and see what they did.
It seems to be there’s not one recipe for success, there’s multiple. That’s what I think makes this team so strong, as well. You can adapt to whatever situation or circumstances that you get put in.
I’m just going to go in trying to do the best job I can do. Like I said, I think focus is going to be from us, at least my side, to put more into qualifying and see what we can do to get some speed.