In 2026, Chip Ganassi Racing boasts a diverse Indy NXT lineup, with all four of its drivers at different experience levels. While Niels Koolen and Bryce Aron return for another season with the team, the two new signings, James Roe and Carson Etter, are on opposite ends of their Indy NXT journey

Roe has been racing in the IndyCar feeder series for four years, and after three seasons with Andretti Global, joins CGR for 2026. Meanwhile, Etter, who grew up watching F1, is the only rookie on the team. As fate would have it, the 23-year-old Californian found his footing at the iconic team his “racing idol”, six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, races for in IndyCar.

During Indy NXT’s media days earlier this week, Etter spoke about his racing journey and shared aspects of his personal life. He sounded humble during the press conference and even introduced himself as he sat down to face the media.

In response to a question by Sportskeeda about his dynamic with his teammates and him being the ‘most inexperienced’ driver at Chip Ganassi Racing, Etter replied:

“It’s honestly good for me, and I like that I am around a group of experienced drivers. They obviously know what to expect in terms of where we’re gonna be at, how the car’s gonna play out over the long duration. So being able to learn off guys that are very experienced is something that I value high because of my inexperience. So being able to learn off what they’re doing and apply it to my own racing is something that I’d like a lot.”

Carson Etter continues to pursue his education at Arizona State University despite steadily rising through the American open-wheel racing ladder. He also has experience in short-course off-road racing, and on the open-wheel side, has been steadily rising through the junior ranks since 2023.

The Californian raced in the USF Junior and the US F2000 with DC Autosport in 2023 and 2024 before signing with Exclusive Autosport for 2025. Though Etter scored only one Top 10 finish, a P6 in Portland, something about his race-craft and potential caught Chip Ganassi Racing’s eye.

Carson Etter sets a clear goal for rookie Indy NXT season with Chip Ganassi Racing

Carson Etter has set a clear goal for his rookie Indy NXT season with Chip Ganassi Racing, and that is to consistently finish in the top 10 in races, which would more or less translate to a Top 10 finish in the championship standings by the end of the season.

For Etter, a Top 10 in the standings might not be a far-fetched goal. Chip Ganassi Racing’s 2025 Indy NXT drivers Niels Koolen and Bryce Aron finished eighth and 11th in the standings, with seven and six Top 10 finishes, respectively.

“The target I’ve set for myself in this rookie season is just to be fighting for that Top 10, anywhere inside the Top 10,” Etter told Sportskeeda. “If I’m to be able to do that, I’m gonna be pretty happy for that.”

In a way, similar to Carson Etter, Chip Ganassi Racing is also inexperienced in Indy NXT. 2025 was its first year in the series since 2007. But for a team that has been dominating IndyCar in the past half a decade, with Alex Palou having won four championships and the 2025 Indy 500, the Indy NXT challenge shouldn’t be as challenging.