MONTEREY, Calif. — Chip Ganassi is sold on Marcus Armstrong’s talent and potential as an NTT IndyCar Series driver.
On Thursday, the 15-time IndyCar championship team announced it has signed the 23-year-old New Zealander to a multi-year contract extension.
“I am very proud and excited to continue with Chip Ganassi Racing for next year and beyond,” Armstrong said. “Together with this very talented and experienced team, I am confident we can compete at the highest level in this championship.
“I feel very grateful that Chip has given me the time to adapt to IndyCar and has helped me every step of the way in what has been a good season. I’ve spent the year learning from a great group of people, including my teammates and Dario Franchitti. I’m very grateful for how much help I’ve received from each team member.”
Armstrong made the jump to race in the IndyCar Series with Chip Ganassi Racing after competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2020 to 2022 where he earned four wins and eight podiums.
The Kiwi will be expanding his driving duties to compete on ovals with a full season beginning next season. Armstrong will drive an Indy car on an oval for the first time when he tests at Texas Motor Speedway on September 13.
“With a season under my belt, I now want to turn these lessons into results,” Armstrong said. “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.”
Despite running on just the street and road courses on the schedule, Armstrong currently leads the IndyCar Rookie of the Year standings in his debut season with 190 points. The Christchurch, New Zealand, native has competed exclusively in road and street course races.
Throughout his first 11 races in the series, he has recorded three top-eight finishes and led the field for five laps.
“Marcus Armstrong has proven in 2023 his quick adaptation to IndyCar road and street tracks,” said Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull. “He is ready to be a full-time Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver. Winning is integrated into his racing resume. This includes his pursuit of the 2023 IndyCar Rookie of the Year.
“He knows how to win as a teammate. Next comes ovals at the highest global level. We look forward to a long-term relationship driven by growth and opportunity in the NTT IndyCar Series with Marcus.”
This is expected to complete Chip Ganassi Racing’s lineup for 2024, which includes six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon in the No. 9. On August 30, CGR signed 2022 Indy NXT champion Linus Lundqvist.
Team owner Ganassi confirmed that two-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou will be back with the team in 2024 “and beyond” after Palou clinched this year’s NTT IndyCar Series championship at Portland last Sunday.
Armstrong’s contract extension is the third driver confirmation from Ganassi in the past eight days.
Lundqvist is new to the team as Marcus Ericsson, the winner of the 106th Indianapolis 500 in 2022, announced on Aug. 23 that he was leaving the team to join Andretti Global.