Armstrong admits sense of urgency to impress as IndyCar rookie

Armstrong will drive the #11 Ganassi-Honda on the 12 street and avenue programs on the 2023 IndyCar schedule, with Takuma Sato taking on the trip on the 5 ovals. And already, the 22-year-old New Zealander has been impressed by the outlook and method of the 14-time IndyCar champions.

“Everybody has been giving me extra info than I may have ever imagined actually,” he mentioned. “So open with the whole lot and the way they method issues. I have been genuinely impressed by the group, simply the strategic perspective that Chip Ganassi Racing has. It is actually fairly outstanding. I can perceive why they’ve had a lot success.”

Nevertheless, Armstrong admitted that he has no possibility however to rise up to hurry instantly.

“I feel basically I have to get on it straightaway,” he mentioned. “I’ve all the data on the earth actually. Clearly [Alex Palou] has gained a championship, Scott [Dixon] has gained greater than a pair, Marcus [Ericsson] gained the Indy 500. It is a very completed group. I’ve all the data to study from, which is admittedly cool.

“I simply have to hit the bottom working, do nicely instantly. That is my goal, to maximise myself from the start. Clearly I perceive how aggressive this championship is, and I have to study a brand new automotive with restricted check days. However that is a part of the problem.

“The group and the strategic view that Ganassi has I feel goes to assist me for that.”

Armstrong additionally spoke with admiration in regards to the depth and expertise inside the Ganassi workforce.

“It is humorous once I speak to individuals across the [raceshop], they discuss once they arrived at Chip Ganassi Racing. I used to be like, ‘I wasn’t born but, however cool…’. Lots of people have been there without end. A lot expertise, a lot information. I am a fan of the game in addition to a driver, so I wish to study everybody’s tales.

“My teammates – I have never actually spent a lot time with them, however simply to grasp the place they got here from, how they kind of grew as drivers is admittedly attention-grabbing to me. The engineers, as nicely. All of them have lots of historical past. Actually my engineer [Eric Cowdin] has been there, achieved that. I draw inspiration from that.”

Requested in regards to the tradition shock of motorsport in America in contrast with Europe, Armstrong replied: “I feel that everybody may be very open. It looks as if racing is a way of life versus a job. That was kind of my first impression, which is an actual optimistic factor. There isn’t any such factor as work hours. If you must keep within the workplace ’til 10, you keep within the workplace ’til 10, and nobody goes to ask questions. That is actually fairly distinctive. Once more, it is one thing that excites me as a result of everyone seems to be as dedicated as I’m, I really feel.”

Armstrong mentioned that he plans to parlay his street/avenue course trip right into a fulltime IndyCar marketing campaign.

“As a racing driver, I might like to be doing the whole lot,” he mentioned. “It is actually my goal sooner or later to be doing the total season. However in the meanwhile I am pretty proud of the way it’s panned out. It is kind of the right solution to introduce myself into this championship and work my solution to a full marketing campaign.”