Photo: Chris Owens
James Roe Jr has secured a place on the 2023 Indy Nxt grid by signing with Andretti Autosport.
Roe is the team’s fourth driver, and he will be going into his second year in the series after racing part-time in 2022. He started the season with the debuting TJ Speed team, and had two seventh places as his best results before he joined HMD Motorsports for two rounds and then dropped out of the series. He ended the year racing in International GT Open.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Andretti Autosport for the 2023 Indy Nxt season,” said Roe.
“To join a global team as successful as Andretti and align myself with their iconic brand is a massive moment for my career, both on and off the racetrack.
“We’ve put in a tremendous effort to get to this point, and I want to thank Michael Andretti, J-F Thormann and Rob Edwards for the opportunity.”
The Irishman has a varied car racing career, starting in Ginetta Junior Ireland in 2014 before moving to Britain’s BRSCC National Formula Ford 1600 series where he came fifth in 2017.
He also picked up experience of Formula 4 before relocating his career to the United States, which started off with appearances in USF2000 and a F2000 Championship Series campaign where he was runner-up.
For 2019 he moved up to Formula Regional Americas, and claimed one win in two seasons. Following that he spent 2021 in USF Pro 2000, where he also won a race and came seventh in the standings.
Andretti chairman Michael Andretti confirmed the team’s Indy Nxt line-up has now been completed with the signing of Roe.
“It’s great to have our full line-up set and we’re excited to welcome James and [sponsor] Topcon to the Andretti family to round out our 2023 Indy Nxt team,” he said.
“He has strong Indt Nxt experience to build on and we are looking forward to seeing what he’ll be able to do in his sophomore season.”