Formula E race winner Nick Cassidy is set to get his first run in an IndyCar later this month after being offered a test with the Ganassi team.
The Race understands that Cassidy will run at Sebring on the week beginning February 13, although it is not yet clear which of the four Ganassi cars he will get his test in.
The Envision Racing Formula E driver is competing in his third season with the Chinese-owned squad and won the New York City race last July.
It is believed that he is in the final season of a three-year deal after moving to Formula E from Super Formula and Super GT racing in Japan, where he was champion in both series (2017 in Super GT with now-Toyota Hypercar driver Ryo Hirakawa, 2019 in Super Formula).
Cassidy is known to have had a seat fitting at Ganassi just before Christmas and will travel to Florida after competing in next weekend’s inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix in India.
When approached by The Race at the recent Diriyah E-Prix Cassidy declined to comment on the test or future plans.
So far this season Cassidy has finished within the points in two of the opening three Formula E races in the new-look Envision team, which has partnered with Jaguar for the Gen3 era.
Cassidy is set to become the latest of several former Formula E drivers to test an IndyCar, as Tom Blomqvist, Jake Dennis, Antonio Felix da Costa and Stoffel Vandoorne have all taken part in tests over the last three seasons.
Ganassi will likely have at least one vacant seat for the 2024 season. The team’s 2021 IndyCar champion Alex Palou is expected to switch to McLaren, although his contract states he isn’t allowed to talk to other teams regarding his future until September.
Marcus Ericsson is in the last year of his deal, and is in an extremely strong bargaining position for a new contract, having won last year’s Indy 500. The Swede reaffirmed his desire to stay at Ganassi long-term this week, but is expected to be a key player in the silly season for 2024.
Ferrari reserve driver Robert Shwartzman also tested with Ganassi last month and will be a frontrunner in any potential seat discussions if he chooses to make the switch to America over continuing to pursue F1 ambitions.
Ganassi has used its two evaluation test days now, so it would need special dispensation to run any more new drivers this season.
Cassidy is believed to be one of several drivers known to be unsettled in Formula E largely due to the Gen3 cars, which drivers generally dislike driving.
The Kiwi is managed by GP Sports Management, the Julian and Alexander Jakobi-fronted stable, which also looks after multiple IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti – who is employed by Ganassi as a driver advisor – and race winner Rinus VeeKay.
Keyword: Ganassi set to hand IndyCar test debut to Formula E race winner