Nolan Siegel is just starting his IndyCar career in earnest, having now run the first couple races of a multi-year deal with Arrow McLaren.
He started the 2024 season competing full time in IndyNXT with a couple select IndyCar outings scheduled with Dale Coyne Racing, not to mention a few endurance sports car races as well.
That changed in June when Siegel was called in last minute to sub for Agustin Canapino in Road America, and then was signed by Arrow McLaren to take over the #6 for the rest of the season and beyond.
The timing of his IndyCar ascension has worked out well for the 19-year-old, who was able to participate during the debut weekend of the series’ hybrid system at Mid-Ohio.
With all the new experiences he is having to manage jumping up to the premiere series, he points to his ability to learn the hybrid alongside the rest of the grid as a key factor in catching up with his opponents.
“I don’t know if it’s that younger drivers will be able to pick up on [the hybrid system] quicker, but I do feel like having everyone learn something together is an advantage for me,” Siegel told MotorsportWeek.com.
“In the past, it’s been a lot of veterans that are going out and doing the same thing every weekend, whereas everything’s new to me.
“Now, there’s still more that I have to learn than other people, but this system is new to all of us. I don’t think new drivers are necessarily going to be able to pick up on it faster.
“I think everyone in IndyCar knows what’s going on, is switched on, and is going to get the hang of it. But it is nice to have a weekend where I’m closer to the same starting point as everyone else.
“I definitely feel like it’s big for me to a part of the first weekend with the hybrid system, and I think that it’ll be a big advantage for me going into next year having done these races. Taking it as it comes, but I think it is going to be more of an advantage for me than maybe other people.”
Siegel has proved multiple times over that he is quick to pick up on new skills, and he is hopeful that being on a level playing field in at least one area will allow him to better display those skills on the big stage.
