Chip Ganassi Racing Signs James Roe, Carson Etter to Join Bryce Aron, Niels Koolen in INDY NXT

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 17, 2025) – Chip Ganassi Racing has signed Irish-born James Roe and Californian Carson Etter to grow its INDY NXT by Firestone efforts in 2026. The two will join Bryce Aron and Niels Koolen in the team’s expanded four-car lineup.

After an 18-year absence, Chip Ganassi Racing returned to INDY NXT 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. The team will work toward improving results in 2026 in an expanded INDY NXT field.

The season begins at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1, 2026, on the Streets of St. Petersburg, FL. The 17-race season will again air live on FOX Sports’ FS1 and FS2.

Notes of Interest: 

• The California Kid: Etter, a Villa Park, CA, native will make his INDY NXT debut in 2026 with Chip Ganassi Racing, 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 the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He began his racing career in 2017 with off-road truck racing.
• NXT Veteran Roe Joins: Irish driver James Roe will join Chip Ganassi Racing in the No. 8 Topcon car for his fourth full season in the INDY NXT championship. Roe has one pole and numerous podiums and top-5s in his INDY NXT career. In addition to INDY NXT, James is a regular in sports cars, including IMSA and the Asian Le Mans Series. 
• Bryce and Niels Back on Track: Bryce Aron returns to the No. 9 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield car in 2026. An important member of Chip Ganassi Racing’s return to INDY NXT in 2025, Aron scored one top-5 and six top-10s in 13 starts with CGR, finishing 11th in the drivers’ championship. Niels Koolen also returns to the No. 10 Super B Batteries car next season. Koolen impressed fans with his great runs on ovals in 2025, building consistent results across the season to finish eighth in the championship standings. Koolen will aim higher in 2026, looking to build on his one top-5 and seven top-10 finishes last season.

Quoteboard:

• Taylor Kiel, Team Manager, Chip Ganassi Racing: “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. 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 seeing what we accomplish.”
• Carson Etter, Driver, No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, INDY NXT: “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. 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.”
• James Roe, Driver, No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, INDY NXT: "I’m incredibly excited to join Chip Ganassi Racing and take this next step in my journey towards INDYCAR. 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.”
• Bryce Aron, Driver, No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, INDY NXT: “I am extremely excited to be returning to Chip Ganassi Racing again in 2026 for the INDY NXT season . 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 off-season testing we’ve had so far. I’m very excited to get going again in 2026 and make a championship charge.”
• Niels Koolen, Driver, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, INDY NXT: “I really enjoyed last year with the Chip Ganassi Racing team. 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."