Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong, driver of the No.11 RIdgeline Lubricants Honda, says that he is fortunate to have three great teammates to learn from as the New Zealander prepares to compete on the streets of Nashville for the first time.
Speaking to Paddock Eye during a media conference call to preview this weekend’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville, Armstrong said:
Well, I haven’t looked closely at the rookie championship really. I think that due to the fact that I’m just trying to get really good race results, to be up there with the top guys, that’s sort of helped me to just – what’s the word – chip away at it and get a lot of points.
I feel like it’s obviously a disadvantage not doing the whole season, considering that you everyone get points for finishing last year in America. I don’t get any if I don’t start the race, unfortunately.
No, I mean, yes, I’m extremely lucky to have three great teammates. I think that’s probably underestimated in the paddock just because I can learn from them and just understand what works in this car and what doesn’t quicker than other people.
Yeah, it’s a big advantage them being very communicative with me and open just to share information about anything. Like when we’re in the engineering room, I’ll ask point-blank, Scott, what are you doing here? He’ll tell me without any hesitancy. That’s a big advantage I would say, yeah. I hope they continue to share it with me.
Despite being a part-time driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this season, competing on road and street course events only while Takuma Sato competes on ovals, the New Zealander leads the rookie of the year standings by 24 points over Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Agustin Canapino.
In Chip Ganassi Racing’s Nashville preview, Armstrong, who scored his career-best result of seventh place in Toronto last month said:
Nashville is a fantastic city and it will be quite the vibe racing downtown. It will be tough, but I think this layout will serve our team well and we’ve been consistently fast on street circuits. Nashville has been one of the races that has been circled on the calendar for me. It’s going to be a good one and I can’t wait to show what we’ve learned in previous street tracks and attack it head-on. It will be bumpy and difficult, just like Toronto and Detroit, which are two circuits we’ve done well on. There’s no reason why we can’t go out there and do a great job in Nashville
Chip Ganassi Racing has a great record here in Nashville, winning both of the races that have been held there while also claiming four of the six podiums available.