30 Sep 2024
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September 30, 2024

Roe Rockets to Top 4 in Finale

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Monday, September 16, 2024) – James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon team brought a fast car to the Music City for the 2024 INDY NXT™ by Firestone Series finale – adding to another strong oval showing for Andretti Global.  

Having shown great pace in a recent test at Nashville Superspeedway, the Irish driver took a measured approach to Saturday’s two practices which saw multiple cars meet the outside retaining wall of the 1.33 mile banked oval. Knowing he had a quick No. 29 Topcon machine under him, Roe was ready to battle for the pole in qualifying; however, the lingering remnants of Hurricane Francine had other plans. Ultimately, qualifying was rained out with starting positions for Sunday’s race set by entrant points.  

Launching from the fifth row of the grid, Roe immediately began to pick his way through the field, executing a series of strategic passes over the first 22 laps of the race that took the No. 29 Topcon car from ninth to fourth. Roe spent the remaining laps of the 65-lap contest strategically hunting the car ahead with the race’s length falling just short of what he needed to secure a spot on the podium for the series finale. 

“It was a great race for us,” said Roe. “Obviously, we were a little bummed about qualifying being canceled because we knew we had lots of pace. I think we needed a few more laps to get on the podium, but the No. 29 Topcon Dallara was fast, and that definitely showed as we went from P9 to P4. Once again, Andretti INDY NXT dominated. I’m excited to see what’s to come.”

The strong result on the oval bumped Roe and his No. 29 team – proudly representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds – to sixth in the final INDY NXT by Firestone Championship standings.  As the season closes, Roe is already looking to the future, with plans to be announced in the coming months. 

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

Points Position: 6

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

12 Sep 2024
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September 12, 2024

Roe Ready to Rock in Music City  

Nashville, Tenn. (Thursday, September 12, 2024) – Following a weekend off, James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global team roll into the Volunteer State refreshed and ready for an oval battle in the Music City Grand Prix – the final contest of the 2024 INDY NXT™ by Firestone season.

Host of eight previous NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, Nashville Superspeedway promises high-intensity, wheel-to-wheel action across its banked, 1.33-mile D-shaped concrete oval. This year marks the first oval finale in a decade for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and caps off a challenging oval stretch for the INDY NXT by Firestone series. Roe has showcased speed and poise across those ovals – including a pole, a track record, and a podium at Iowa Speedway – and looks to capitalize on that experience in Nashville.  

“I’m excited for this weekend in Nashville,” noted the Irish racer. “We had a great test there a few weeks ago and we’re planning to carry those good results over to the race this weekend. I’m looking forward to finishing the season strong with the No. 29 Topcon crew.” 

Roe and the No. 29 team – backed by partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds – come to Nashville ready to bring home a points-paying finish in this weekend’s season finale.    

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Event: INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix

Season: Race 14 of 14

Race: Sunday, September 15 (12:00 p.m. ET)

Track: Nashville Superspeedway (1.33 mile oval)

Other Sessions: Practice 1 – Saturday, Sept. 14 (10:00 a.m. ET); Practice 2 – Saturday, Sept. 14 (1:00 p.m. ET); Qualifying – Saturday, Sept. 14 (3:45 p.m. ET)

Broadcast: Race – Live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network (U.S.), INDYCAR Live! (outside of U.S.). Practice/Qualifying – Live on INDYCAR Live!, INDYCAR Radio Network (globally). Sky F1 (UK/Ireland/Northern Ireland).

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

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

03 Sep 2024
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September 3, 2024

Roe Maneuvers to Top 6 at The Mile

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Monday, September 3, 2024) – Irish driver James Roe showcased his tenacity and racecraft at the historic Milwaukee Mile on Saturday afternoon where he and his No. 29 Topcon entry contributed to a dominant day for Andretti Global.   

With just one practice at a track making its return to the schedule after a nearly ten year hiatus, Roe and his counterparts had to be quick studies of the Milwaukee Mile’s unique nuances. With an experienced pilot at the helm, the No. 29 Topcon team showed pace and poise in Saturday’s qualifying, securing a starting spot on the fourth row of the grid.

When the green flag dropped just a few hours later, Roe’s skills were immediately put to the test – surviving a chaotic start that shuffled the No. 29 back a few positions and then stealthily avoiding a spinning car ahead which brought out a caution. Following the restart, the Irish driver showed his speed and mettle as he methodically stalked and executed passes, fighting his way up four positions to secure a sixth place finish on the day.   

“I think overall it was a good day,” said Roe reflecting on the race. “We dodged mayhem at the start and worked our way forward the rest of the race. I knew that we had a fast car out there and managed to get some huge points. We passed a lot of cars and Andretti flat-out dominated this weekend, so we’re happy.”

Coming off a strong result, Roe and his No. 29 team – proudly representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds – return to action in two weeks for the INDY NXT by Firestone season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

Points Position: 8

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

30 Aug 2024
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August 30, 2024

Roe Motors into Milwaukee  

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Thursday, August 29, 2024) – Back in action for the third weekend in a row, James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global team motor back to the American Midwest and back to oval racing for the Milwaukee 100 – the penultimate contest of the 2024 INDY NXT™ by Firestone season.

The Milwaukee Mile, a storied track that has hosted series from all corners of the U.S. motorsports landscape, returns to the INDY NXT by Firestone schedule after a nearly 10 year hiatus. A one-mile oval that drives like a road course due to its relatively flat turn banking, The Mile’s configuration has remained essentially unchanged over its 120 year history. With a quick car at the two most recent ovals – including winning the pole in track-record speed at Iowa – Roe is ready to show his speed at this historic venue.     

“Milwaukee is a new track for us all, which is always very exciting,” commented Roe. “I’m looking forward to getting there and figuring out how to get around this one-mile short oval. This is my first time going flat track oval racing, but the No. 29 Topcon Dallara is fast and we’ve been strong on ovals this year, so it should make for a good time.” 

The No. 29 car livery will feature the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) prominently on the rear wing as it turns laps on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park. AEM, based in Milwaukee, is North America’s leading organization advancing construction and agriculture equipment manufacturers in the global marketplace – serving as a critical resource to industry leader members like Topcon.

After conquering the Milwaukee Mile, the Irish driver and his No. 29 Topcon team – representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds – head to Nashville Superspeedway for the culmination of the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone season.  

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Event: INDY NXT by Firestone Milwaukee 100

Season: Race 13 of 14

Race: Saturday, August 31 (4:00 p.m. ET)

Track: Milwaukee Mile (1 mile oval)

Other Sessions: Practice – Friday, August 30 (2:30 p.m. ET); Qualifying – Saturday, August 31 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Broadcast: Race – Live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network (U.S.), INDYCAR Live! (outside of U.S.). Practice/Qualifying – Live on INDYCAR Live!, INDYCAR Radio Network (globally). Sky F1 (UK/Ireland/Northern Ireland).

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

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

27 Aug 2024
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August 27, 2024

Turn 1 Chaos Collects Roe in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (Monday, August 26, 2024) – Though held in The City of Roses, Sunday’s INDY NXT™ by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland and its infamous first turn had only thorns for James Roe and the No. 29 Topcon entry of Andretti Global.   

The Irish driver pushed the pace across two practices to start the weekend, finishing Practice 2 fourth fastest leading into Saturday evening’s qualifying. Roe translated that speed into a strong qualifying effort for the No. 29 Topcon squad, notching a lap that secured P3 on the grid.

Roe and his team came ready to maximize the strong starting position on race day, but their opportunities were scuttled on Lap 1 as the No. 29 suffered damage during multi-car mayhem in Portland’s infamously chaotic Turn 1. Despite falling to the rear of the field with damage, Roe continued to keep his No. 29 Topcon machine on the lead lap until being hit from behind by the No. 76 Dallara on Lap 8 in an incident that drew the race’s sole caution. Further damaged, Roe took the No. 29 to pit lane for repairs before rejoining the race multiple laps down.

“It was just mayhem at the start. I got hit going into Turn 1 and that forced us to have to take the escape road,” reflected a frustrated Roe. “From there, we were at the back of the field with a damaged car from the contact. Starts here are always crazy, and that was the case again this year. It’s unfortunate because we had loads of pace yet again, but we’ll just have to take it back to the ovals in Milwaukee next week.”

Always resilient, Roe and his No. 29 team – representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds – will regroup and return ready to fight next weekend in Milwaukee at the penultimate race of the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone season.

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

Points Position: 8

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

23 Aug 2024
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August 23, 2024

Roe Races into Portland  

PORTLAND, Ore. (Thursday, August 22, 2024) – Straight from a weekend in the American Midwest, James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global team travel to the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest for the final road course contest of the 2024 INDY NXT™ by Firestone season.

Constructed on the former location of the city of Vanport, destroyed in 1948 by the area’s infamous Memorial Day flood, Portland International Raceway’s 1.964-mile natural road course demands the full attention and skill of drivers and their teams. Though relatively flat, the track boasts twelve technical turns, including a hard-braking right-hander leading onto the sweeping backstretch and a three-turn complex leading onto the frontstretch. Roe will lean on his deep road course experience – including a podium at Barber Motorsports Park earlier this season and a top ten finish in last year’s Portland event – as he pilots his No. 29 Topcon machine on this demanding circuit.   

“Portland is a very technical track with a mixture of slow speeds and a very quick last sector,” noted Roe. “Executing the small details is crucial, so we have to bring our A game this weekend. We’ve been strong on the ovals recently, so hopefully with my experience in Portland, we can transfer that momentum to the road course.”

The Irish driver and his No. 29 Topcon team roll into the West Coast prepared to meet the track’s technical challenges and secure a strong points haul for partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds in The City of Roses.

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Event: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland

Season: Race 12 of 14

Race: Sunday, August 25 (1:10 p.m. ET)

Track: Portland International Raceway (12-turn, 1.964 mile natural road course)

Other Sessions: Practice 1 – Friday, August 23 (4:45 p.m. ET); Practice 2 – Saturday, August 24 (2:20 p.m. ET), Qualifying – Saturday, August 24 (7:20 p.m. ET)

Broadcast: Race – Live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network (U.S.), INDYCAR Live! (outside of U.S.). Practice/Qualifying – Live on INDYCAR Live!, INDYCAR Radio Network (globally). Sky F1 (UK/Ireland/Northern Ireland).

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

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

19 Aug 2024
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August 19, 2024

Roe Races to Top 10 in St. Louis

MADISON, Ill. (Sunday, August 18, 2024) – With the wind blowing hard in the American heartland, Irish driver James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon team battled on World Wide Technology Raceway’s unique oval to bring home a top 10 finish in the INDY NXT™ by Firestone Series’ OUTFRONT Showdown.   

In the weekend’s only practice session, Roe continued to show the pace that landed him on the pole at Iowa, putting up a fast lap that secured P2 on the practice leaderboard. Unfortunately, that practice prowess didn’t translate to a matching result in the evening qualifying session where the No. 29 notched a starting spot on the grid’s sixth row.   

Confident that the No. 29 Topcon machine had more speed to unleash, the Irish driver stepped into race day ready to battle for positions and move up the field.  As the race unfolded, Roe and the No. 29 team executed their plan, running as high as seventh before a late race restart pass attempt moved the car up the track and into the marbles. The top 10 finish puts Roe in 8th position in the INDY NXT™ by Firestone Series Championship standings – with just nine Championship points separating 8th from 5th. 

“There’s a lot for the No. 29 Topcon team to be proud of today,” reflected Roe. “We worked our way forward on a track that’s tough to pass. On the restart, I went for it, but got into the marbles and fell back a bit – that’s just oval racing. I’d rather go for a move than sit back and be content running further back. So, we have a quick race car that we’ll take on to the next.”

That next race comes quickly for Roe and his No. 29 team – representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds – as they head to the Pacific Northwest next weekend to tackle the final road course of the season at Portland International Raceway.

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

Points Position: 8

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

15 Aug 2024
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August 15, 2024

Roe Primed for Return at World Wide Technology Raceway

 MADISON, Ill. (Thursday, August 15, 2024) – Returning from a month-long break coinciding with the Summer Olympics, James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global team are geared up to get back on the track for this weekend’s OUTFRONT Showdown – the 11th contest and second oval of this season’s INDY NXT™ by Firestone calendar.

Located just outside St. Louis, World Wide Technology Raceway offers a unique 1.25-mile oval with a non-traditional shape and varying degrees of banking in each corner. The track’s egg shape is reminiscent of the oval at Japan’s Twin Ring Motegi with Turns 1 & 2 sharing similarities with New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Turns 3 & 4 loosely mirroring Phoenix Raceway. Having qualified sixth in 2023’s OUTFRONT Showdown and having secured the pole at INDY NXT’s most recent oval race, Roe brings pace, experience, and confidence into this weekend’s event.   

“This is an important weekend for us as we come back from break and enter the final stretch of the season,” said Roe in anticipation of the weekend. “St. Louis is always a fun race and I know that the team really enjoys coming out here. After locking in the pole and a podium at Iowa before the break, we know we’ve got mega pace on the ovals and we intend to show it.”

Coming back from the pause in the schedule, the Irish driver and his No. 29 Topcon team aim for a big result in St. Louis for partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds in this first of three straight weekends of INDY NXT by Firestone contests. 

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Event: INDY NXT by Firestone OUTFRONT Showdown

Season: Race 11 of 14

Race: Saturday, August 17 (4:05 p.m. ET)

Track: World Wide Technology Raceway (1.25 mile oval)

Other Sessions: Practice – Friday, August 16 (3:15 p.m. ET); Qualifying – Friday, August 16 (6:45 p.m. ET)

Broadcast: Race – Live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network (U.S.), INDYCAR Live! (outside of U.S.). Practice/Qualifying – Live on INDYCAR Live!, INDYCAR Radio Network (globally). Sky F1 (UK/Ireland/Northern Ireland).

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

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

15 Jul 2024
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July 15, 2024

Roe Rockets to Pole, Lap Record, and Podium in Iowa

NEWTON, Iowa (Sunday, July 14, 2024) – Irish eyes were smiling in the American heartland as driver James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon team brought a rocketship to Iowa Speedway for the 10th fixture of the 2024 INDY NXT™ by Firestone season.   

Having faced adversity in recent weeks, including a broken scaphoid bone in his right hand, Roe and team arrived at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” ready to improve their fortunes. After just one practice session, the Irish driver came out flying in single car qualifying – laying down two blistering laps that not only locked in pole position but also garnered the track record for both 1-lap (171.088 mph) and 2-lap average (170.625 mph).  

“I can’t thank the No. 29 Topcon crew enough – my team gave me a rocket ship,” said a rejuvenated Roe. “It’s just been a hell of a few weeks and now, here we are on the pole. We got a 1-2-3 start for Andretti Global and that just shows that we have some really good cars.”

On race day, Roe continued to showcase the No. 29’s incredible speed, leading 49 of the race’s adjusted length of 55 laps on a day where tire management was a key variable. Roe and team’s effort landed them on the second step of the podium and covered in champagne as part of an all Andretti victory lane celebration. The strong result marks Roe’s second podium of the season and moves him to 7th position in the Championship standings. 

“Every driver wants to get on the top step,” said Roe post-race. “However, it’s fantastic to get the pole this weekend and a podium finish. We were a little boxed in with what I could do with adjustments in the car, but that’s racing. Overall, we had a great car and it was just a dominant weekend for the Andretti team.”

Following a break for the Summer Olympic window, Roe and his No. 29 team, representing partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, and The Ireland Funds, will return to action on August 17 at the uniquely shaped oval of World Wide Technology Raceway. 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

Points Position: 7

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

10 Jul 2024
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July 10, 2024

Roe Revs Up for Iowa Short Track  

NEWTON, Iowa. (Wednesday, July 10, 2024) – After a season packed with storied road courses and challenging street circuits, James Roe and his No. 29 Topcon team roll thru the Iowa cornfields and onto “The World’s Fastest Short Track” for the first of four ovals on this season’s INDY NXT™ by Firestone calendar.

Though just .875 miles and boasting laps under 18 seconds, Iowa Speedway drives like a much bigger track – offering a physical and mental challenge to drivers. With a recent test day rained out and just one practice before qualifying, Roe will rely on his experience to navigate the unique demands of Iowa’s newly partially re-paved tri-oval.   

“I’m excited for the first oval of the year in Iowa,” noted Roe, “especially since we had a good qualifying and race run last time we were out there. We qualified in the second row on the grid and got a top 10, so we’ll work to turn a good qualifying into a strong result this weekend.”

Ready to turn left all weekend, the Irish driver and his No. 29 Topcon team seek to take home a points haul for partners Topcon, Ring Power Corporation, CES Power, Strong Roots, Trintech, Tourism Ireland, Celebrity Coaches, and The Ireland Funds in this final contest before the month-long Olympic break.

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Event: INDY NXT by Firestone Iowa 100

Season: Race 10 of 14

Race: Saturday, July 13 (2:15 p.m. ET)

Track: Iowa Speedway (.875 mile tri-oval)

Other Sessions: Practice – Friday, July 12 (2:00 p.m. ET); Qualifying – Friday, July 12 (6:30 p.m. ET)

Broadcast: Race – Live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network (U.S.), INDYCAR Live! (outside of U.S.). Practice/Qualifying – Live on INDYCAR Live!, INDYCAR Radio Network (globally). Sky F1 (UK/Ireland/Northern Ireland).

 

ABOUT JAMES ROE

Hometown: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Age: 25

2024 Car: No. 29 Topcon Andretti Global Dallara

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