IndyCar Rookie of the Year leader Marcus Armstrong has signed a multiyear extension with Chip Ganassi Racing that will see him compete in the full series schedule, including the Indianapolis 500, starting in 2024.
Armstrong, 23, holds a 26-point lead over Agustin Canapino for top rookie honors entering Sunday’s season finale at Laguna Seca. Armstrong built that edge despite missing all five oval races this year while racing only road and street courses.
“With a season under my belt, I now want to turn these lessons into results,” Armstrong said in a statement. “I will be racing on the ovals for the first time next year, and it’s an exciting challenge that I’m confident I can learn quickly. I spent the entire Month of May either in the engineering office or in the pit stand this year, trying to familiarize myself with the details of oval racing. It’s a challenge that excites me a lot.”
Armstrong has four top-10 finishes this season, including a best of seventh in Toronto in July. He moved to IndyCar after three years in Formula 2, where he won four races and had eight podium finishes.
He is scheduled to test on his first oval next week at Texas Motor Speedway.
Armstrong has been able to learn in his rookie season from six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, a fellow Kiwi; two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou; Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and driver-coach Dario Franchitti, a three-time Indy 500 winner.
The Ganassi lineup next year will be Dixon, Palou, Armstrong and rookie Linus Lundqvist. Ericsson is moving to Andretti Global.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com