Andretti INDY NXT Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 Report

Race Notes

The Andretti INDY NXT and Andretti Cape INDY NXT teams took on an action-packed day of racing complete with a practice session, qualifying for both races of the doubleheader weekend and an evening race on the 14-turn road course inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After a strong qualifying earlier in the day, Jamie Chadwick took the green flag for the 35-lap race in sixth and was able to work her way into the lead pack by Lap 10. Despite two full-course yellows, Chadwick maintained impressive form to capture her first INDY NXT podium and became the highest INDY NXT female finisher since Pippa Mann’s maiden 2010 victory at Kentucky Speedway.

Following back-to-back top-five finishes in today’s practice and qualifying sessions, contact in the opening laps of the race saw Louis Foster lose his second-row starting spot when the No. 26 faced front-wing damage from the incident. After staying out on the track for as long as he could with the damage, the Brit ultimately had to pit to replace the front wing and fell to the back of the field. In a late-race charge during the multiple restarts at the end of the race, Foster was able to fight his way from the back to come away with his third top-10 finish of the season in as many races.

Leading the Andretti Cape driver duo, Salvador de Alba moved into the top six as the race progressed and was primed to move into the top five, but contact with his teammate on the Lap 25 restart caused the No. 2 to spin off track. The Mexican driver would finish the day in 13th.

Andretti Cape driver Michael d’Orlando started the first race of the doubleheader weekend in ninth in his third INDY NXT appearance and steadily climbed through the field higher into the top 10. Unfortunately, the INDY NXT rookie received a penalty on Lap 26 for avoidable contact with his Andretti Cape teammate and was forced to the back of the field. Despite the late race penalty, d’Orlando was able to take the checkered in 12th.

Andretti INDY NXT newcomer Bryce Aron took today’s Race 1 start just outside the top 10, but early contact forced the American into the pits just six laps into the race. While able to steadily move forward from the back of the field after the Lap 6 incident, Aron was unable to fully recover from the contact and took the checkered flag in 14th.

Taking the start in the second row after a strong third-place qualifying run earlier in the day, James Roe went off course on the opening lap and was forced to the pits for front tire damage. Following the early race trip to the pits, Roe was issued a drive-through penalty for an unsafe pit exit and would finish the day in 15th.

---

Race Results

Louis Foster No. 26 Copart / Novara Technologies Dallara

---

Andretti INDY NXT

“I got punted by another driver and I wasn’t sure what race control was going to do, but they took a really long time to make a decision and by that point it was too late. I’d already gone for a move and the guy had shut the door and damaged my front wing. All-in-all, not a great race, but we did manage to bring in some points. Not where we wanted to finish and a little bit disappointed, but we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Bryce Aron No. 27 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara

---

Andretti INDY NXT

“It was a difficult one for us. We got taken out at the start, which was really unfortunate. The contact broke the front wing and from there we had to pit. After that, our race was pretty much over. We hung in there though and we still got some good points, so it’s not the end of the world. We’ll fight again tomorrow.”

Jamie Chadwick No. 28 VEXT Dallara

---

Andretti INDY NXT

“I’m honestly super happy. We’ve had good pace all day, so to be able to convert it into a podium result is just such a great feeling. The No. 28 team and I have been working so hard this season and after the last two races, it’s exciting to finally get this one in the bag. On to tomorrow!”

James Roe No. 29 Topcon Dallara

---

Andretti INDY NXT

“That one was on me. We had a great qualifying position starting on the inside of the second row. Going into Turn 7, I locked up my fronts, went straight and got a flat spot on my tires. It is what it is. We have to go tomorrow, but we have the fastest car on track so we’ll see what we can do.”

Salvador de Alba No. 2 Grupo Indi Dallara

---

Andretti Cape INDY NXT

“It was a tough day here at the first race of two this weekend at IMS. We definitely picked up a lot of pace during the race. We had a bit of contact on one of the restarts, but this is racing. We know the pace is there and I think it was just getting stronger. I’d like to thank the Andretti Cape team and I’m looking forward to doing it again tomorrow for Race 2.”

Michael d’Orlando No. 3 Priority / Rising Star Racing Dallara

---

Andretti Cape INDY NXT

“It wasn’t the result we were looking for. I had an incident with my teammate Salvador [de Alba]. The tire grid stopped up in Turn 13 on the restart, and I didn’t have the time to slow down. I was behind Salvador just making sure I was going to get a good restart and then everyone stopped up and I ended up into the back of him. I got put to the back of the pack, but the Andretti Cape team put together a great car for me this weekend. We had really fast lap times throughout the race and were working our way forward, so I’m just really disappointed we couldn’t bring a good result to the team. We had the pace and could’ve had the result, but it’s just unfortunate.”

Don Lambert Team Manager

---