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0 Another New Zealander will be full-time in the IndyCar grid in 2023, teaming up with childhood hero Scott Dixon.
Marcus Armstrong competed part-time in this year’s series for Chip Ganassi Racing alongside Dixon, champion Alex Palou, and last year’s Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson.
After pursuing a career in Formula 1 with support from Ferrari and its driver academy, Armstrong moved Stateside where he turned his attention to IndyCar.
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Although Formula 1 was long his ultimate ambition, IndyCar is a close second. The 23-year-old grew up watching Dixon and was eight years old when the Kiwi racing legend won the Indianapolis 500.
On the cusp of his first full season that will see him make his oval racing debut, Armstrong has signed a multi-year deal to stick with Chip Ganassi Racing.
“It’s a pretty special place to be really, especially at my age,” said Armstrong.
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“It gives me the best opportunity to compete for championships, something that I believe I’ll be capable of soon.
“I feel like, had you told me two years ago that I’d be here, I probably wouldn’t believe you. To think about it like that, it’s a place exactly like I planned when I was eight years old.”
Armstrong admits it’s a good feeling to race alongside someone he worshipped growing up.
Dixon is widely considered to be one of New Zealand’s best drivers who never made it to Formula 1.
However, he’s got it made in North America having won six IndyCar titles and sits second on the all-time race wins list behind the great AJ Foyt.
“It’s cool to be here learning by his side essentially,” said Armstrong.
“At this rate, Scott could be racing for the next 35 years,” he joked. “So it’s cool to be a part of his journey no matter where, which part of it may be.
“I’m very, very lucky to learn from Scott and my other teammates as well. There’s a reason that those other guys are here at Ganassi, and that’s because they’re phenomenal, they’re a great talent and work ethic. So to learn from those guys, I’m very grateful.”
Although the calendar has not yet been released, the move from part-time to full-time will see Armstrong add a handful of races to his schedule.
Those include Texas Motor Speedway, the famed Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the iconic Milwaukee Mile – a race that’s reportedly set to be confirmed soon.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be my first time on an oval. So I’ll have a couple of people there to help me out my first day,” he said of his first test in Texas later this month.
“Ultimately, I think I’m going to sort of respect the learning process for the first day. I’m not going to try and break a lap record on my first lap. But I’m going to sort of go in and keep my eyes open in the sense that I want to learn as much as possible.
“Like I’ve said a couple of times, ovals are a completely different game. I mean, I’ve got all the data in the world to compare to, so I’m going to keep my eyes open, learn as much as possible, and trust my instincts as well.”
With Armstrong’s confirmation, it means four drivers from New Zealand will feature. The other two are Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) and Tom Blomqvist (Meyer Shank Racing).
The IndyCar Series season comes to a close at Laguna Seca on September 11 with coverage of the 95-lap race on Monday at 4.30am AEST.
