F1 junior Chadwick to race in IndyCar’s rebadged feeder series
Three-time W Series champion and Williams Formula 1 junior Jamie Chadwick will race in America next season for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar feeder series formerly known as Indy Lights
Three-time W Series champion and Williams Formula 1 junior Jamie Chadwick will race in America next season for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar feeder series formerly known as Indy Lights.
Chadwick, 24, tested for Andretti in what will be the Indy NXT Series at its annual post-season test in September, and today’s announcement confirms Chadwick’s switch to the series that sits directly under IndyCar.
“I’m hugely excited to be joining Andretti Autosport for the 2023 INDY NXT season with DHL,” said Chadwick, who will drive the number 28 car, sharing Romain Grosjean’s IndyCar sponsor DHL.
“My aim is always to challenge myself and continue my progression as a driver and this represents not only a big step up but also a big step toward my goal of competing in the highest categories of single-seater racing.
“Andretti Autosport’s standing in the sport is second to none and I hope to bring more success to such a prestigious team. I can’t wait to get started.”
Team owner Michael Andretti added: “Jamie’s successful career speaks for itself, but INDY NXT gives Jamie the opportunity to continue her development in a new type of racing.
“We’ve turned out five INDY NXT champions over the years and look forward to continuing our role in developing new talent.”
Pato O’Ward – now at Arrow McLaren SP – and Andretti’s own Kyle Kirkwood have gone on to establish themselves in IndyCar after winning the Indy Lights title with the team.
Chadwick’s last full-time seat outside of W Series came in the Formula Regional European Championship with top outfit Prema, where she finished ninth in the standings with a single podium finish.
She also finished fourth in F3 Asia in the winter of 2019-20 and won the MRF Challenge series in the winter prior to that.
The announcement also confirms that Williams will continue to support Chadwick into 2023.
“We’re very excited to see Jamie embark on a new chapter in INDY NXT,” Williams sporting director Sven Smeets said.
“Throughout this year Jamie displayed an incredible level of skill and determination to claim her third W Series title. We look forward to supporting Jamie with her challenge stateside.”
Her exact role with Williams in 2023 is yet to be revealed.
Chadwick will race alongside Andretti’s top finisher from Indy Lights last year, Hunter McElrea, and fellow Brit and Indy Pro 2000 champion Louis Foster.
She is Andretti’s second full-time female athlete after Catie Munnings who races in the Extreme E all-electric off-road championship.
Chadwick is the 17th Indy NXT entry confirmed in a series which had as few as eight full time entries back in 2019.
Andretti’s rival HMD Motorsport alone will field eight cars alone in 2023, alongside entries from the likes of IndyCar team Juncos Hollinger Racing.
Unlike in previous years, Chadwick or the other drivers in the series will not be guaranteed the $1.2 million prize for three races in IndyCar including the Indy 500 the following year due to a change in the prize structure.
Now $500,000 is given to the winner with the remaining $700,000 given to the teams based on race finishing positions.
