Written by Archie O’Reilly
Three-time W Series champion and current Indy NXT sophomore Jamie Chadwick has been confirmed for her maiden IndyCar test with Andretti Global at Barber Motorsports Park on September 30.
Chadwick, 26, became the first female race winner in the Indy NXT championship since Pippa Mann in 2010 when she won from pole at Road America in June, leading from lights to flag. The Briton is the only woman to win a race at that level on a road or street course.
“I’m incredibly excited to be testing in IndyCar for the first time with Andretti Global at Barber Motorsports Park later this year,” Chadwick said. “I want to say a huge thank you to the team for this opportunity. It is for sure one I am going to relish.
“The IndyCar Series remains my goal, so I cannot wait to learn as much as possible on that day at one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar.”
Chadwick made the switch stateside for the 2023 Indy NXT season with Andretti, finishing 12th in the standings as she adapted to new machinery and a different style of racing on brand-new tracks to her. She made good progress through year, picking up five top-10 finishes in the final eight races after finishing no higher than 11th in the first six.
Chadwick has documented her hard work in the off-season ahead of a second season in Indy NXT and has seen further improvement on-track. After being denied probable top-10 results in the first two races after starts inside the top 10, Chadwick picked up her maiden podium on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) road course in May.
Misfortune reigned again after a mechanical issue in the second IMS race and a puncture in Detroit. But victory at Road America started a run of five successive top-10 finishes and Chadwick is currently fifth in the championship standings - laudable given the amount of early-season issues out of her control.
“It’s been a pleasure watching Jamie grow as a driver in our Indy NXT programme,” Andretti Global CEO and Chairman Michael Andretti said. “The work she put in during the winter after her rookie season is obvious, and we’ve been impressed with the progress she’s made.
“The Indy NXT field is really competitive this year and what Jamie has been able to do is a testament to the level of skill and potential she has. We believe in rewarding hard work and results and are excited to give her this opportunity. We’re all looking forward to seeing what she can do in September.”
Chadwick’s teammate and compatriot Louis Foster currently leads the Indy NXT standings by 77 points ahead of Abel Motorsports’ Jacob Abel. He had his own maiden IndyCar test at Road America last September.
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