Throughout hypothesis again in springtime that Vettel would name time on his F1 profession, RLL founder and co-owner Bobby Rahal remarked that he would like to let the German ace take a look at one in every of his RLL-Hondas. Since then, the Aston Martin driver has introduced that 2022 will likely be his ultimate season in F1.
Former F2 racer and F1 take a look at driver Lundgaard, who was confirmed in the present day as having signed a brand new multi-year IndyCar contract with RLL, was requested what he considered the thought of Vettel attempting out an IndyCar.
“I feel it might be cool for Sebastian to drive an IndyCar, actually. I’ve pushed Formulation 1 vehicles. I’ve examined fairly just a few days with Renault. So for me, I’ll say it as it’s: For me, that was personally the simplest automobile I’ve ever pushed. It is easy to drive to a sure extent.
“And the rationale why we see Formulation 1 being, I might say, cut up up within the entrance of the sector after which the midfield is extraordinarily shut, is that the automobile may be very straightforward to drive to a sure restrict. Then discovering that half a second to a second is what’s robust. As a result of the automobile’s acquired a lot downforce that it should stick, proper?
“So I feel for Sebastian to come back over right here and take a look at a automobile that it’s good to hustle, it’s good to work the automobile, and… the automobile is not driving you, you might be driving the automobile – I feel that is going to be a troublesome transition. However I feel actually there’s going to be quite a lot of F1 drivers that I want would strive an IndyCar.”
Lundgaard, who scored his first IndyCar podium final month on the Indianapolis street course, spoke in complimentary style of two drivers who he felt could be robust have been they to comply with his instance and switch from F2 to IndyCar. One was present factors chief Felipe Drugovich and the opposite was Marcus Armstrong, who has scored two wins this yr.
“I feel taking a look at Felipe, he is accomplished a particularly good job this yr,” mentioned the 20-year-old Dane. “He had a really, excellent begin to the season, which has put him on this place to have the ability to get factors and nonetheless hold the lead within the championship.
“I used to be teammates with Marcus in 2020 in F2. I do know he had a really robust yr that yr, however I do know Marcus is an efficient driver. I do know he can hustle a automobile as effectively. I do not know that a lot about Felipe general, however I feel Marcus for positive would have the ability to be quick.
“The factor about IndyCar is it’s good to be quick each single time, and that is robust. I feel the transition into ovals is hard.”
Concerning the robust performances proven by himself and one other former F2 racer/F1 tester/IndyCar rookie, Callum Ilott, on this yr’s IndyCar championship, Lundgaard mentioned: “I might say the Dallara hyperlink is an enormous consider it, however I feel coming from Pirelli tires to Firestone tires was an enormous profit for each Callum and I as a result of I feel we have now the expertise of correct saving tires and taking care of tires as a result of the Pirelli tires are robust [to deal with]. They’re very obscure, and from observe to trace, it is also totally different.
“Right here I really feel the Firestones can take much more, so you possibly can truly push the tires. However on the similar time, we all know be quick, however now we additionally know save the tires… We have proven ourselves to have the ability to do job, be quick, however now I feel it is helped our race craft much more. However if you see it, I feel we have additionally certified fairly effectively.
“I feel the vehicles do not drive dramatically totally different. I feel the IndyCar is ready to hustle extra. It is acquired a delicate slide to it. The largest distinction for me, I feel, could be from the tires, however the automobile handles just about the identical. It is just a little totally different, but it surely’s not dramatically totally different.”
Lundgaard mentioned, too, that he derived quite a lot of satisfaction from the laborious racing however moderately pleasant ambiance throughout the IndyCar paddock.
“I do not assume there’s been a lot I have not actually favored about IndyCar to date,” he remarked. “There’s at all times going to be choices you hoped would have [been] totally different from a number of folks, if it is the stewards or the race director, et cetera, modifications to the tracks and stuff like this.
“However I feel general, like I’ve mentioned many occasions now once I moved over right here and I’ve had the query, ‘What is the distinction about Europe and America?’, for me it is about racing. It is extra about racing than it’s about politics, et cetera. What I like about IndyCar is the sensation I’ve right here is the sensation I acquired once I fell in love with go-karts. You set the automobile on the bottom, you race, and you’ve got enjoyable. However you compete, and as soon as the helmet’s off, everyone seems to be greatest buddies: you do not see that in Europe.
“The life is nice for me in America, I choose it right here. Clearly I miss household and buddies et cetera, however I am positive a time will come for them to go to me.
“Simply every part in regards to the sport over right here is most well-liked for me.”