LEXINGTON, Ohio (Monday, July 8, 2024) – Thirty-five laps on the tight lines of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course offered a great show of speed, though not the result Irish driver James Roe pushed for as the No. 29 Topcon team completed the ninth round of the INDY NXT™ by Firestone season.   

After an electrical issue limited the No. 29’s laps in Practice 1, Roe – with a screw surgically set in his hand less than two weeks ago – came out strong in Practice 2 finishing seventh on the speed charts. Unfortunately, that practice pace didn’t transfer to Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session as balance struggles relegated the car to a qualifying position near the rear of the field.   

After strategic adjustments, the No. 29 Topcon machine started strong on race day, quickly advancing from 17th to 12th position. While continuing to fight forward, the No. 29 was contacted on Lap 8 resulting in damage that required a trip to the pit for a wing change – eventually landing Roe and team a lap down. Despite the setback, Roe continued to push, matching the race leaders’ pace while notching the sixth fastest lap of the race and top two times in multiple sectors. 

“It was a frustrating day,” said Roe. “Obviously, contact with your teammate is never what we want as a team, but that’s what happened. I had to pit to replace the front wing and that put me a lap down. Overall the No. 29 Topcon machine was mega, so thanks to the team for that. We were super strong all day and made big gains from qualifying, so we just have to take the positives from today’s pace and move on to the next.”

Roe and his No. 29 team, representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds, trade the cornfields of the Buckeye State for the cornfields of the Hawkeye State as they take on the the first oval of the season at Iowa Speedway on July 13 (2:10 p.m. ET). 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

Points Position: 9

Social: IG – @jamesroe_ie, X –@jamesroe_IE, FB – @JamesRoeJr