Chip Ganassi Racing has signed Irish-born James Roe and Californian Carson Etter to grow its INDY NXT by Firestone efforts in 2026, joining Bryce Aron and Niels Koolen in the team’s expanded, four-car lineup.

After an 18-year absence, CGR returned to the INDYCAR development series last season and placed both the No. 9 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield car, driven by Aron, and the No. 10 Super B Batteries car, driven by Koolen, into the top 10 in entrant points.

“Chip Ganassi Racing is glad to have Carson and James join the team with Bryce and Niels as we expand our INDY NXT by Firestone efforts in 2026,” CGR Team Manager Taylor Kiel said. “We are putting in a lot of hard work as we try to fight for wins and podiums in our second year back on the NXT grid, and I’m looking forward to see what we accomplish.”

Roe (photo, top) will join CGR in the No. 8 Topcon car for his fourth full season in the INDY NXT championship. He has one pole and three podium finishes in his INDY NXT career. In addition to INDY NXT, Roe is a regular in sports cars, including IMSA and the Asian Le Mans Series.

"I’m incredibly excited to join Chip Ganassi Racing and take this next step in my journey toward INDYCAR,” Roe said. “Competing with one of the most successful teams in the sport as they grow their INDY NXT program is a unique chance to combine my experience in the series with their championship-level culture. The INDYCAR paddock is where I want to be, and I’m more determined than ever. The goal is to create something special together this season.”

Carson Etter

Etter (photo, above), a Villa Park, California, native, will make his INDY NXT debut in 2026 driving the No. 11 GATC Health car. An Arizona State University student, Etter completed his rookie season of USF2000 in 2024 with four top-10 finishes and one fastest lap at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He began his driving career in 2017 in off-road truck racing.

“It feels like ‘thank you’ isn’t enough, but I’d like to give a huge thank you to Chip Ganassi Racing for this opportunity to compete in INDY NXT by Firestone,” Etter said. “I’ve dreamed of racing with this team since I was a kid, and I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since they called and said I’m a part of the Ganassi family. This team has a culture that will push you past what you thought you were capable of, even in practice, and turn it into results on race day. I’m fired up to help carry that momentum forward.

“Chip Ganassi Racing sets the bar high. There are no excuses, only results, and that’s exactly the environment I want to be in. We’re coming in hungry, putting in the work and making sure every weekend means something. I can’t wait to get after it in 2026.”

Bryce Aron

Aron (photo, above), from Winnetka, Illinois, returns to the No. 9 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield car in 2026. An important member of CGR’s return to INDY NXT in 2025, Aron scored one top-five and six top-10 finishes in 13 starts, placing 11th in the drivers’ championship.

“I am extremely excited to be returning to Chip Ganassi Racing again in 2026 for the INDY NXT season,” Aron said. “We finished the second half of last season really strong, and I was very proud of all of the development we made across the entire year, especially with me jumping in at the second round. I feel like we developed the car a ton, and I am excited to continue the momentum we had coming out of last year and with the offseason testing we’ve had so far. I’m very excited to get going again in 2026 and make a championship charge.”

Niels Koolen

Koolen (photo, above), from the Netherlands, also returns to the No. 10 Super B Batteries car next season. Koolen made big strides in the championship in 2025, especially on ovals and ended up eighth in the standings. He produced one top-five and seven top-10 finishes last season.

“I really enjoyed last year with the Chip Ganassi Racing team,” Koolen said. “The people, the preparation, and the way we kept improving throughout the season gave me a lot of confidence. I’m looking forward to returning for another year in INDY NXT, and I’m ready to push even harder with this group as we look to fight our way forward on the grid and build on our top-5s and compete for wins in 2026.”

The 2026 season begins at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.