Upcoming test at Sebring could be first step toward move to NTT IndyCar Series for open-wheel star.
Dan Istitene – Formula 1Getty Images- Jamie Chadwick may be stepping out of the F1 pipeline and on to a path that could eventually lead to a seat in the NTT IndyCar Series
- Chadwick, 24, has dominated the W Series with wins in five of six races this season for the Caitlyn Jenner-owned Jenner Racing team.
- She’ll be testing an Indy Lights car for Andretti Autosport on Sept. 21 at Sebring.
Jamie Chadwick might finally getting closer to a big-time open-wheel ride.
And, no, it’s not in Formula 1.
A soon-to-be three-time W Series champion, Chadwick may be stepping out of the F1 pipeline and on to a path that could eventually lead to a seat in the NTT IndyCar Series.
An Andretti Autosport official confirmed with Autoweek on Thursday that the team will be giving Chadwick what it terms, “an evaluation test.” Andretti Autosport COO Rob Edwards recently told RACER that Chadwick will be testing a Dallara IL15 Indy Lights car.
The test is slated for September 21 at Sebring.
Chadwick, 24, has dominated the W Series with wins in five of six races this season for the Caitlyn Jenner-owned Jenner Racing team, where she teams with American racer Chloe Chambers. Chadwick has won 11 of the 20 races in the series’ history, reached the podium in 18 of those races and was champion in both 2019 and 2021. The 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.
So far, the W Series exposure and success has afforded the British driver the opportunity to garner a development driver position with the Williams F1 team. She’s also driven in the Extreme E series.
In terms of F1, however, her title of development driver means basically simulator work and representing Williams on race weekends. There’s no indication that she’s actually in line for even so much as an official F1 on-track test season during a race weekend.
And, based on the comments made by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali last week, Chadwick might be better off casting her lot with just about any series other than Formula 1.
“Realistically speaking, unless there is something like a meteorite, I don’t see a girl coming into F1 in the next five years,” Domenicali said in a report published by Sky Sports. “That is very unlikely.”
Mike Pryson Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011.
Keyword: W Series Champ Jamie Chadwick to Test Indy Lights Car with Andretti