Note: This continues a series of 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone team previews on INDYNXT.com. The season starts Sunday, March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida (10 a.m. ET, FS1, FOX One, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Starting Lineup: James Roe (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing), Bryce Aron (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing), Niels Koolen (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing), Carson Etter (No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing)

2025 in Review: Chip Ganassi Racing had a quiet yet effective 2025 season. Niels Koolen finished eighth in points in his first full season. In 2024, he drove in nine INDY NXT races for HMD Motorsports, including the first eight. His best finish was 10th. Last year, Koolen finished in the top 10 seven times, with a best result of fifth at Iowa Speedway. In the other car, Jonathan Browne competed in the season opener at St. Petersburg and finished seventh. However, he was replaced by Bryce Aron for the remaining 13 races. Aron finished 13th in the opener for HMD but earned six top-10 finishes for CGR, including four of the final six and two straight to end the season. His best result was fifth at Milwaukee Mile.

New for ’26: CGR re-entered the series last season for the first time since 2007, competing with a two-car lineup. The team expands to four cars this year. James Roe enters his fourth full season in the series but first with CGR. 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. Etter, a native of Villa Park, California, makes his INDY NXT debut. 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. Aron and Koolen return.

Keep an Eye on This: Koolen (photo, bottom) was among the top performers on ovals last season despite having one career oval start. He had an 8.5 average finishing position in four races in 2025, with a career-best fifth place finish at Iowa Speedway. He also finished seventh in the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.

Little-Known Fact: CGR boasts a proud history in motorsports. It has earned 24 drivers’ championships and more than 270 race victories spread across 10 different racing series. Among those wins are six Indianapolis 500 triumphs, the 2010 Daytona 500 and 2010 Brickyard 400, eight Rolex 24 At Daytona victories and wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What’s missing? An INDY NXT by Firestone victory.

Niels Koolen