Multi-Time INDYCAR Race Winner to Pilot No. 9 PNC Bank Honda Beginning in 2027
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has signed Danish driver Christian Lundgaard to a multi-year contract to drive the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for the winningest team in NTT INDYCAR SERIES history.
A three-time INDYCAR winner at just 25 years old, Lundgaard has 16 podiums and 21 top-five finishes in 87 career INDYCAR starts. In 2026, he won races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and at Road America, and he secured a career-best third-place finish in the INDYCAR championship standings.
Lundgaard will join teammates Alex Palou and Kyffin Simpson as part of the CGR's 2027 driver lineup.
Notes of Interest:
- Career So Far: Lundgaard has quickly become a well-rounded INDYCAR talent, scoring victories on both road and street circuits and scoring his first oval podium in 2026. The 25-year-old was briefly a simulator driver for the Alpine F1 Team and Lundgaard came to INDYCAR in 2021. He scored his first podium a year later and won his first race in 2023 at Toronto – a victory that made him the first Danish driver to win an INDYCAR race. Lundgaard graduated into single seater racing after starting in karts and the formula ranks, and he spent three seasons in Formula 2, where he won multiple races and scored nine podiums.
- #BankOnThe9: PNC Bank will continue its longstanding partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing on the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda next season. PNC Bank has been a partner of CGR since 2013 and a primary partner on the No. 9 since 2018. They have celebrated six INDYCAR championships with CGR, two of which were with the No. 9 team. With approximately 2,300 branches and 58,000 employees, PNC is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S.
- Leading the Field: With 18 championships since 1996, Chip Ganassi Racing has quickly become one of the most successful sports organizations in American history. CGR's 18 INDYCAR championships equal the NBA's all-time franchise record, exceeding every NFL franchise and the leading organizations in Formula 1 and NASCAR, trailing only the New York Yankees (27) and Montreal Canadiens (24) among record holders in North America pro sports. No Big Four franchise has approached CGR's championship production, with CGR achieving all its championships across just 31 seasons. Since 1990, no NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL franchise has won more than six championships.
Quoteboard:
- Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing: "We are excited to welcome Christian to Chip Ganassi Racing. We know he's capable of accomplishing even more in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and we're looking forward to helping him reach that next level with the No. 9 team. He's already proven he can win races, and it isn't often a driver of his caliber becomes available. Throughout our history, one of the things we've done best is identify young talent, help them maximize their potential, and develop them into championship contenders. We believe Christian has all the talent to be the next driver to do that."
- Christian Lundgaard, Driver, Chip Ganassi Racing: "It is an honor and a privilege to join Chip Ganassi Racing beginning next season. The fact that it is in the iconic No. 9 PNC Bank Honda makes it even more special. CGR has set the standard in INDYCAR for decades, and the opportunity to be part of that legacy is something I've worked toward my entire career. I'm incredibly excited about what's ahead. I can't wait to get to work with everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing and compete for wins, championships, and the Indianapolis 500."
- Lou Cestello, head of Regional Presidents for PNC Bank: "We are excited to begin a new era with Chip Ganassi Racing and what's ahead with Christian taking the wheel of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. He's already achieved some remarkable milestones early in his career, and we're looking forward to watching him build on that success in 2027 and beyond."
About Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 35 years and is considered one of the most successful and innovative owners in motorsports. Today, his teams include three Honda cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and four entries in INDY NXT by Firestone. Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has won 25 championships and over 275 races, including six wins in the Indianapolis 500, eight Rolex 24 At Daytona victories, and wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. CGR boasts a state-of-the-art facility in Indianapolis, where the INDYCAR and INDY NXT teams are located, and a corporate office in Pittsburgh. For more information, visit ChipGanassiRacing.com.
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SOURCE Chip Ganassi Racing Teams
