Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the five biggest moments of 2024 in INDY NXT by Firestone in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 27-31.
History was made June 9 in the Grand Prix of Road America. Jamie Chadwick became the first woman to win an INDY NXT by Firestone race since 2010 – and only the third female driver to win in the INDYCAR development series – with her victory at the picturesque Wisconsin road course.
English driver Chadwick spoke like a seasoned veteran when describing her tactics throughout the 20-lap race. She wanted Louis Foster and Jacob Abel to fight on track for second behind her as much as possible. So, she would purposely back up whoever was running behind her to third place. She trusted the pace in her car, so when she got to the higher-speed portions of the 4.014-mile track, she could pull away again.
That mindset allowed Chadwick to lead all 20 laps from the pole in the No. 28 VEXT car of Andretti Global to become the first female winner in INDY NXT since Pippa Mann in September 2010 at Kentucky Speedway. Ana Beatriz is the other female winner in the series, with single victories in 2008 and 2009. Chadwick is the first female to win an INDY NXT race on a road or street course, as Beatriz and Mann won on ovals.
Chadwick also became the first woman to win a pole on a road or street course in INDY NXT by Firestone history June 8 at Road America, and she never relinquished that spot in the race.
Those accomplishments are something Chadwick admitted she wasn’t physically able to do as a rookie in 2023. For each feat to occur on a challenging and physically demanding racetrack was a tribute to her offseason workout regimen.
Three-time W Series champion Chadwick last drove a race car weighing 1,245 pounds with power steering and 270 horsepower. Coming to America and finding the daunting task of driving a race car without power steering was a wake-up call. Wrestling a 450 horsepower INDY NXT by Firestone machine that weights approximately 1,410-1,430 pounds, without fuel and driver weight, was challenging.
With 14 races of experience last season and no top-five results, Chadwick was aware of where she needed to strengthen her body to withstand the rigors of racing in the INDYCAR development series.