Newton, IA. (Monday, July 24, 2023)- The Iowa oval saw a season best top four start for James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon Andretti Autosport team. Roe finished ninth, his sixth top ten finish of the season as all four Andretti Autosport drivers finished in the top ten for the first time this year.

A rain shower on race day shifted the race from morning to evening which brought cooler track temperatures for the 7:30 p.m re-scheduled start.

After a stellar qualifying effort earning a fourth-place grid position,. the No. 29 Topcon machine got shuffled in traffic during a chaotic start..

“I got swamped at the start on the inside lane and fell back,an expensive lesson” Roe said. “Then all race battled a little bit with balance. We did what we could with the tools we have in the car, but we were just hanging on there. I’m glad to bring the car back in one piece – first and foremost.”

While managing balance, Roe avoided racing incidents around “The World’s Fastest Short Track” and drove a clean car to the checkered flag for valuable championship points.

“We saw some stuff on the telemetry already that indicated some of the balance issues,” Roe said. “We just need to figure out why and go get them next time.”

Just six points behind his nearest competitor, Roe holds eighth place in the INDY NXT™ by Firestone standings for his partners Topcon, CES Power, Strong Roots, Ring Power Corporation, The Ireland Funds, and GAAPP.  The Irish driver and his counterparts are back in action in downtown Nashville when INDY NXT visits the Music City onAugust 6th.

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 24

2023 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Autosport Dallara

Points Position: 8

Social: @jamesroe_ie (Instagram), @jamesroe_IE (Twitter), @JamesRoeJr (Facebook)