Chip Ganassi Racing announced on Wednesday that Dubliner Jonathan Browne joined the team as they entered the INDY NXT presented by Firestone championship for the 2025 season. Browne, who competed in HMD Motorsports in 2024 and finished 13th in the standings, will drive the No.9 Dallara. Browne says that racing for Chip Ganassi Racing is a dream come true.
“This is very much a dream come true. In terms of being brought into an organization like Chip Ganassi Racing, it’s huge. I’m just excited to get started and get to racing. It’s a huge honor and privilege to be a part of this organization.”
Joining Browne in the Chip Ganassi Racing INDY NXT line-up is Niels Koolen who will drive the No.10 Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara. Speaking about the news, he said:
I’m excited to be doing my second year and first full season in INDY NXT. I look forward to working with Chip Ganassi Racing who have great pedigree and vast experience across many different categories.”
Over on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES side, Scott Dixon returns to the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda for a record-extending 23rd consecutive season with the team in the series. The Iceman took two victories during the 2024 season and is now within nine of AJ Foyt’s record of 67 career INDYCAR SERIES wins.
Speaking about the news, Dixon says:
“I’m excited. I’m ready to get going. I wish there wasn’t such a long offseason. We had lots of great races last year. It didn’t end the way that we would’ve liked with some DNFs and some poor results here and there, but the team did a great job with great speed. I’m looking forward to the season, and obviously going for championship number seven.”
Defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou returns to the No.10 DHL Honda, where he hopes he can become a three-time consecutive series champion in 2025, having dominated the championship in 2024.
2024 was another amazing season in the books. The work doesn’t stop, and I can’t wait to be back on track with more hunger than ever in 2025!”
Dixon and Palou are joined once again by Kyffin Simpson who moves to the No.8 Journie Rewards Honda and speaking about the news, he says:
I am very excited to continue with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2025. I look forward to building on a strong start to my INDYCAR career and I can’t wait to see what our team can achieve together.”
Chip Ganassi, team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing says:
By all accounts 2024 was another stellar year for our organization with five INDYCAR SERIES wins and our third championship in the last four seasons. So, as we move toward 2025, we are looking to defend the championship with a strong lineup of drivers and look to continue Kyffin’s development and the development of our young drivers through our INDY NXT program.”