Detroit podium takes Hunter McElrea into lead of Indy Lights rookie standings
Hunter McElrea has recovered from a spin on Saturday to claim a podium in the second race of the Indy Lights Detroit double-header.
Matthew Brabham, Linus Lundqvist and Sting Ray Robb celebrate in the fountain at Belle Isle. (Penske Entertainment)
McElrea was second as unstoppable Swede Linus Lundqvist swept the weekend in Detroit with another green-to-chequered victory.
Lundqvist led all 55 laps of the weekend, taking out both races to make it four wins out of the six Indy Lights races so far this season.
“What a couple of races we’ve done,” said Lundqvist.
“I’m super happy and proud of this team."
"I think we showed up here."
"In Practice 1, I wasn’t feeling it, but we just built up to it."
"We got a good car, and it got the most out of myself.”
Kiwi McElrea jumped into second off the line at Belle Isle and didn't look back, setting off on the impossible task of catching Lundqvist in his dominant #26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car.
The Swede built a lead of five seconds, only challenged by two pace car periods when Christian Bogle and Christian Rasmussen both found the wall in separate incidents.
Hunter McElrea leads the chasing pack behind Linus Lundqvist in Detroit. (Penske Entertainment)
Aussie Matthew Brabham completed his competitive weekend with a four-place finish, leaving Detroit fifth in the championship standings.
McElrea is behind him in sixth, and leads the rookie standings ahead of Rasmussen.
The Dane had a nightmare weekend, involved in an early race incident in race one before crashing out of both outings.
Indy Lights returns next weekend at Road America for the seventh round and halfway point of the season.
2022 Indy Lights Series - Detroit Race 2 Results
Linus Lundqvist
Hunter McElrea (NZ)
Sting Ray Robb
Matthew Brabham (AUS)
Danial Frost
Benjamin Pedersen
Kyffin Simpson
Antonio Serravalle
James Roe
Ernie Francis Jr
Ryan Phinny
Jacob Abel
Christian Rasmussen - DNF
Christian Bogle - DNF
