Andretti INDY NXT World Wide Technology Raceway Race Report
Race Notes
After a full day of practice and qualifying on Friday, the Andretti INDY NXT and Andretti Cape teams were back on track this afternoon at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) for the OUTFRONT Showdown. Leading the charge for the Andretti team in pole position, Louis Foster led all 75 laps of today’s race to score his eighth INDY NXT career win, sixth win this season, second win in a row on an oval and fastest lap of today’s race. Windy conditions and high speeds made for an eventful race that saw 19 caution laps and three full-course yellows.
Following a record-breaking qualifying session on the 1.25-mile oval yesterday, Louis Foster took on WWTR for the second time in his career where he immediately found his rhythm at the front of the pack and remained there the entire race. This win boosted Foster’s lead in the Championship up to 91 points.
Salvador de Alba took on the OUTFRONT Showdown for the first time in his INDY NXT career today from the fifth row as he ran a strategic race to make an impressive 11 passes and move up five spots from where he started. The Mexican driver broke into the top five by Lap 38 of the race where he remained until the restart on Lap 60 sent him back a few spots. Undeterred, de Alba fought his way back up into the top five and was battling for the podium until the last lap. He ultimately took home his third top-five finish of his INDY NXT career.
Rookie Bryce Aron broke into the top 10 within the first 10 laps of the race and stayed just inside that threshold for most of the race. On the Lap 60 restart, Aron stayed aggressive and managed to fight for positions until the last lap of the race, when he moved up three spots to finish just outside of the top five.
Like teammate Aron, James Roe was able to find the pace he needed today to move into the top 10 at the beginning of the race. Running as high as P7, Roe was on track to take the checked in that spot until the restart on Lap 60 sent him back to where he ultimately took the checkered rounding out the top 10, his fourth of the season.
Taking the green flag from her career-best starting position on an oval, Jamie Chadwick held onto her second-place starting position for the opening laps of the race. Unfortunately, Chadwick was collected in a race-ending incident on the front stretch on Lap 7 with the No. 18 Dallara. The other driver involved in the incident was issued penalties for blocking and avoidable contact.
The INDY NXT field will switch gears to road course racing next weekend at Portland International Raceway. Fans can catch the action at 1:10 PM ET on Sunday, August 25 on Peacock and INDYCAR LIVE.
Race Results
Louis Foster No. 26 Copart / Novara Technologies Dallara
P1
Started: P1
Standings: P1 (491pts.)
“I think we had a really good car today. Obviously, it’s a shame Jamie wasn’t able to be up there with me today. I think we would have both probably finished 1-2 in that race. Andretti gave me a great car, and I built a really strong gap at the start. Once I realized that my pace was good, we just backed up massively and focused on tire saving through the race. Then when the caution came out, it wasn’t the best thing in the world, but I knew we had a good car and that we’d pull away again. Right now, I’d love to keep winning and adding up those Championship points.”
Bryce Aron No. 27 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara
P6
Started: P13
Standings: P13 (209pts.)
“I’m pretty happy with that race. I got the Jostens Biggest Mover award so I’m really excited about that. We bounced back from a not ideal qualifying and made it work today. Big thanks to the team for giving me such a good car to move through the field. Congrats to Louis on the win and I’m looking forward to getting to Portland next.”
Jamie Chadwick No. 28 VEXT Dallara
P16
Started: P2
Standings: P5 (251pts.)
“It all just happened so quick. We race so close and your margins of error are so small. Unfortunately, this time it was just too close and we just made contact. From my point of view, I didn’t move. I stayed in the middle of the track. He was on the outside and it felt like he just came over. I’m really gutted because I think we had a really fast car today. It would have been really nice to show that and get a good result, but it just didn’t happen today.”
James Roe No. 29 Topcon Dallara
P10
Started: P12
Standings: P8 (242pts.)
“I think that there is a lot to be proud of today. We worked our way forward on a track that’s tough to pass. Then, on the restart, just went for it, but the marbles were there instead of the track and we fell all the way back. That’s just oval racing. I’d rather go for a move when that happened than sit back and be content running further back. So, we had a quick race car that we’ll just have to take on to the next.”
Salvador de Alba No. 2 Grupo Indi Dallara
P4
Started: P9
Standings: P6 (248pts.)
“It was a bittersweet result being one step from the podium. I think I can say we had the best car on the grid. I appreciate everyone on the Andretti Cape team for giving me such a strong car today. We fell back a bit on the restart which hurts because it cost us the podium, but we still made a big step forward from quali and I’m happy with that. Thanks to my sponsor Grupo Indi for getting me here today and we’ll keep working for those good results going forward.”
Don Lambert Team Manager
“Outstanding day for Louis and the No. 26 crew. All of our cars had a really good race today, it’s just unfortunate what happened to Jamie in the beginning there – it really ruined her day. She had a good car and was set up to succeed today, but we’ll just have to take that into Portland. Louis is dominating right now – it’s unbelievable. So, we just have to keep scoring points and we’re Championship bound.”
