NDY NXT by Firestone standout Kyffin Simpson will jump to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Chip Ganassi Racing for the complete 2024 season, team officials announced Sept. 18.
Simpson, who joined CGR as a development driver in May 2022, competed in INDY NXT by Firestone for the past two seasons. This year, Simpson registered two top-three finishes, standing on the podium at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Simpson, a native of the Cayman Islands, also competes in the European Le Mans Series, where he and his two teammates lead the LMP2 championship standings with three races remaining, thanks in part to their impressive 4 Hours of Le Castellet victory. This year, Simpson also captured sports car victories at IMSA’s Twelve Hours of Sebring race (LMP2 class victory; P3 overall) and the Asian Le Mans Series’ 4 Hours of Dubai race (LMP2 class; overall victory).
“It’s been incredible working with Chip Ganassi Racing as their development driver over the last couple years, and I’ve been able to learn so much,” Simpson said. “I am very excited to be making the next step to INDYCAR with this team.
“I had a great time at the test, and I can’t wait to get back in the car. It’s been my dream to race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and it’s an honor to make it happen now with one of the best teams in the series. I’m really looking forward to working more closely with the entire team and the drivers. I want to give all the glory to God, and I also want to thank Chip (Ganassi) and Mike (Hull) for giving me this opportunity, Ridgeline Lubricants and The American Legion for their support, and, of course, my family.”
Simpson drove an INDYCAR SERIES car for the first time in January 2023 with CGR at a Sebring International Raceway test.
At 18, Simpson is scheduled to be the youngest driver on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid next season.
Simpson will round out the Chip Ganassi Racing lineup for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, joining six-time champion Scott Dixon, two-time champion Alex Palou, 2023 Rookie of the Year Marcus Armstrong and 2022 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Linus Lundqvist.
“We welcome Kyffin as a teammate to our INDYCAR program,” CGR Managing Director Mike Hull said. “He has been integrated into a Chip Ganassi Racing multiyear defined development program, which now provides the opportunity at open-wheel’s highest level. He has already tested an INDYCAR SERIES car, with more to follow as an INDY NXT by Firestone graduate. In addition, he is already a proven winner in IMSA at the 12 Hours of Sebring in LMP2 and on an LMP2 global stage in the ALMS and ELMS series.”
Before advancing to INDY NXT and sports car competition, Simpson won the 2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship after earning seven wins, two pole positions and 13 total podiums.