Sweden's Linus Lundqvist leads the 2022 Indy Lights season comfortably after winning four of six races, and is already thinking about the next step in his career
Linus Lundqvist is the sensation of the 2022 Indy Lights season. With five poles and four wins in six races, the Swede has skyrocketed in the standings and is already emerging as the main favorite for the title even with eight races left to go.
The Dale Coyne driver had already demonstrated his talent last year, when he achieved three wins and 11 podiums and finished the championship in third place behind Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas, who won opportunities at Indy. In his second year in the category, the challenge was to win the title, and Lundqvist seems well on his way to accomplishing his goal.
"The goal was to come back and try to win the championship, and it's going well so far. We started in St. Pete with a podium and felt like we had a little more pace, then we went to Barber and won, then we got a win in Indianapolis and then the two wins in Detroit, things have only been getting better. I'm excited to see what we can do in the future," Linus said in an interview with the American Racer website.
The good performance of the Swede has already called the attention of Indy teams. Lundqvist doesn't have a manager, and has been conducting his own negotiations, either to get sponsors or to try to get a spot in the main series. An Indy Lights title would be very beneficial to his aspirations, as it guarantees at least three races at Indy - including the Indy 500 - and a nice cash bonus.
"I think I've been in contact with every team on the grid so far and I've talked to everybody. And everybody I talked to knew who I was too! That was a surprise for me. So that was something nice. So I had conversations, but nothing serious. And they all said the same thing: 'It's still early, but keep doing what you are doing, trying to win races, and let's keep in touch and see what happens in the future,'" revealed the driver who is only 23 years old.
"The most important thing I need to do for myself is just keep winning races. And then we'll see what happens in the future, but hopefully if I win the championship and get the graduation prize (US$1 million), somehow things will work out," concluded the Swede.
Lundqvist comes from an absolutely dominant weekend in Detroit, with two pole-positions and two wins. The result left him with an 84-point lead over second-place American Benjamin Pedersen. Indy Lights returns this Sunday (12), for the Road America GP.