Promise Fulfilled for Chadwick in Road America INDY NXT Triumph
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
Jamie Chadwick came to the INDY NXT Series by Firestone last season as a 3-time W Series champion. Expectations for the 26-year-old Brit were high, maybe too high.
A podium finish in the first of two races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in May foreshadowed her potential earlier this season.
But Sunday at Elkhart Lake’s Road America, Chadwick fulfilled that promise by winning the 20-lap race from pole position, making her the third female to win in the series, and the first to win a non-oval event.
“Honestly overwhelmed…super, super happy,” Chadwick said moments after climbing from her No. 28 VEXT entry from Andretti Global. “We came into this year aiming for that, kind of back of last year trying to be a little bit more aggressive with our approach, less conservative in each race, finish races, trying for wins.
“We've had good pace this year, probably not good enough pace to challenge for a win until we got to yesterday. Yesterday, I knew we had an opportunity. Then, today, sitting on pole, another opportunity. You don't get those regularly in this championship. I was keen to make the most of it.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
As far as living up to those exceptions when she joined the series in ’23, Chadwick replied not everyone develops at the same pace.
“I don't know. Some rookies come in and do a great job straightaway. Someone like Caio (Collet) coming in, being fast. I wasn't. Everyone gets better. Everyone can develop.
“I feel like we're just getting better and better. I have a great group of people around me helping me, Andretti. There's no reason why we can't keep improving. I don't know why you get labeled something straight out of the box. We're just getting stronger. That's all I'm focusing on.”
Given the amount of work and effort Chadwick has put into the INDY NXT Series, she wasn’t sure if her first win more relief or vindication.
“I don't know,” replied Chadwick. “Just happy. Honestly, just happy. Even last year, it was only the first half of the year we really struggled, then we got going. Last year was a super competitive year in this championship. It's hard to make progress throughout the year.
“I felt like we've been, yeah, coming at it stronger race by race. This year, yeah, we definitely made a big step. But it's where I feel like we should be now.
“Normally, before this weekend, I felt like there was a bit of a gap to these two especially,” Chadwick said, referring to Louis Foster and Jacob Abel, who finished second and third, respectively, less than a second behind her on Sunday. “Now we're closing that gap. After today especially I think we can try to always be up with these two as much as we can.
“These two (Foster and Abel) have great opportunities to go to the next level. If I can compete wheel to wheel with these guys, then I know I'm in a good place. That's all I care about.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
Even though Foster and Abel chased her to the finish, Chadwick said she felt comfortable and had no trouble maintaining her focus.
“Yeah, honestly, I know the level and everything is very different. Because I come from the W Series, I felt a lot more comfortable out front than I've ever felt all year. It's kind of what I'm almost used to. It's a different level, but I felt pretty comfortable and happy. I led races and happy doing that.
“It's a lot harder being in that position, being in the pack because you're attacking and being attacked. Making right decisions in a championship like this isn't easy. I felt like I was in the best place. I was pretty comfortable.”
For Chadwick, it wasn’t one thing that has lead to her increased pace. Rather, it was a number of things.
“I think the thing is, is once you're in season, to make sudden changes and improvements, suddenly turn the season around, it's very difficult. I knew that was always going to be the case. Your confidence, where you expect to be, where you feel like you are as a driver, versus where you want to be, are two different things.
“Yes, halfway through last year we started to really turn a corner. Just to put that further into this season is the difference. I'm a lot stronger this year. I feel different. Feel confident. Have a really great team around me. I ask for different things in the car, I know what's coming, I know the tracks. All that stuff makes a big difference.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
As evidenced by the size of the crowd that greeted Chadwick when she drove into victory lane, her win was a very popular one.
“Special,” said Chadwick. “I've got a lot of support. I'm grateful for that. I think from my side, we kind of talk about not having too much pressure early on. At the same time I really want to show what women are capable of in this sport. I strongly believe women are capable of getting to the highest level.
“We have an amazing young generation coming through. There's so many great women in the sport. We just need more. Hopefully it inspires more and that's all I care about.”
While some may look at Chadwick’s win as historic, or adding to history, she doesn’t view it that way.
“No, not really. It doesn't make a difference.
“At the same time I find the stat (of being the only the third female to win in the series) scary because there is no reason, it's tough, it's physical, but there's no reason why women can't be competing at the highest level of motorsports. It shouldn't be that. I don't think it's something we should be proud of to celebrate in a way.
“I really want more women. Seeing Lindsay (Brewer) come to the championship is great, but I think we should have more and more young girls starting in the Indy feeder series, getting through INDY NXT.”