Marcus Armstrong was a Scott Dixon fan his whole life. When he was 8, the aspiring younger racer requested his fellow New Zealander to autograph a helmet visor that he held on his bed room wall.

Subsequent yr, Armstrong will likely be Dixon’s teammate.

Armstrong on Friday was named the fourth IndyCar driver within the Chip Ganassi Racing lineup and can pilot the No. 11 subsequent season on street and avenue programs. A driver for the 5 oval races on the 17-race schedule will likely be named later.

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The No. 11 is actually the No. 48 that seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson drove the previous two seasons, with Chip Ganassi making the change to run 4 automobiles numbered in sequential order. Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson drives the No. 8, six-time champion Dixon drives the No. 9, and 2020 IndyCar champion Alex Palou drives the No. 10.

Armstrong, 22, spent the previous three seasons in Components One feeder sequence F2 and was a Ferrari growth driver in 2021. He’s the previous roommate of Callum Ilott and former teammate of Christian Lundgaard — each of whom simply accomplished their rookie IndyCar seasons.

“I’ve at all times been drawn to the IndyCar championship as a result of it is a type of championships that is been very well televised in New Zealand since I used to be younger, primarily due to Scott and his success,” Armstrong informed The Related Press. “As time progressed, as I bought nearer to F1 and single-seaters, the attraction to IndyCar grew simply due to how aggressive the championship is. I prefer to problem myself, and the extent of competitors in IndyCar is remarkably excessive.”

Armstrong, from Christchurch, New Zealand, was set to journey from his present residence in London to Indianapolis this weekend to fulfill his new staff. He will not want an introduction to Dixon, the 42-year-old thought of the very best IndyCar driver of his era and Armstrong’s unequivocal childhood hero.

Dixon final season gained his 53rd profession race to cross Mario Andretti for second on the all-time checklist. Dixon has pushed for Ganassi in all however 23 of his 345 profession begins.

“For a very long time I have been a Scott Dixon fan. I do not need to make him cringe with our age distinction,” Armstrong informed the AP.

Regardless of the two-decade age distinction, Armstrong by no means thought of sometime racing with Dixon a fantasy.

He satisfied his father after profitable 5 nationwide karting championships to permit him to depart New Zealand for Italy at age 14, the place he moved by himself to purse a racing profession. Armstrong mentioned as quickly as he obtained parental permission, he by no means seemed again.

Armstrong was in Components 4 two years after his transfer to Italy and gained that title in his first season. He gained 4 races and 4 poles in F3 within the 2018 and 2019 seasons then collected 4 wins and eight podiums in three seasons of F2.

“Perhaps it is a energy, or possibly it is a weak point, however I at all times thought I used to be able to doing nice within the sport,” Armstrong informed the AP. “I feel you in all probability have to achieve the game, that you must consider in your self. I at all times pictured myself being in IndyCar.

“As Scott’s teammate? I can not particularly say I noticed that. It is a unprecedented chain of occasions.”

Armstrong turns into the newest driver to depart Europe, the place F1 is the top however has solely 20 seats annually. Alexander Rossi started the pattern in 2016 when the American left F1 and gained the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie. He has been adopted by Ericsson, final season’s Indy 500 winner, Romain Grosjean, Ilott and Lundgaard. On Thursday, three-time W Collection champion and Williams F1 reserve driver Jamie Chadwick was introduced as a driver for Andretti Autosport in IndyCar’s second-tier growth sequence.

Armstrong mentioned he may have remained in F2 for a fourth season, however he had been watching IndyCar for therefore lengthy, and after conversations with Ilott and Lundgaard, he determined to make the transfer to what he believes is probably the most balanced racing sequence on the planet. He examined for Dale Coyne Racing at Sebring in October.

He does not know if European racing is finished for good, simply that he desires to be in IndyCar proper now.

“I do not need to suppose too far into the long run. I am simply grateful for this chance that’s standing proper in entrance of me,” Armstrong mentioned. “I need to carry out in addition to I can within the close to future and simply consolidate myself within the unbelievable probability that’s IndyCar and simply do my finest.

“I am not F1 as a touchdown spot. I’m IndyCar, and that is precisely why I’m right here.”