This week, Dutchman Niels Koolen will take his first laps in an IndyCar at the Mid-Ohio circuit. The 24-year-old driver from Vorden will be behind the wheel of a Chip Ganassi Racing car, the team with which four-time champion Alex Palou secured his latest title. Koolen previously competed in the Indy NXT junior class with the Indianapolis-based team in 2025.
Niels Koolen is a relatively unknown name in motorsport. The young driver only started karting at the age of fourteen and made his debut in a formula car at the age of twenty-one. His career quickly took off from there. After seasons in Formula 4 and Formula Regional, he turned his focus to American racing classes. However, he also made two forays into Formula 2 with AIX Racing, during the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, where he consistently finished at the back of the pack.
Indy NXT
Last year, Niels Koolen made his debut in Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports. The Dutchman had a rather unremarkable season. In early 2025, he made the switch to Chip Ganassi Racing, where he was able to make an impression. His best result was a fifth-place finish at the Iowa Speedway. He ended the season in eighth place in the final standings. As a result, confidence in him at Chip Ganassi is high; on Wednesday, he will be allowed to take a few test laps in their IndyCar.
In recent years, Rinus ‘VeeKay’ van Kalmthout was the only Dutchman in the American top class. This year, he had an impressive season with the relatively underfunded Dale Coyne Racing. His plans for next year are still unknown.
