It’s not often one can give Chip Ganassi something new.

Bryce Aron (photo, top) has a chance to do that this weekend. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver enters the INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader May 8-9 on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course aiming to deliver the team its first victory in the series – one of the few boxes left unchecked on Ganassi’s résumé.

And Aron is not trying to do it alone.

“I try to sneak onto track walks with them and listen,” Aron said of CGR’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson. “You pick up little things like lines, techniques and setup ideas. Not everything translates directly (between INDY NXT and INDYCAR SERIES machinery), but there is always something to learn.”

That access is rare. Everyone in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock wants to know about Palou’s magic. Aron can ask him anything, any time he wants.

Palou has won four NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships in five years with Ganassi. He swept the Month of May last year by winning the Sonsio Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Dixon has delivered six season titles for the organization, second-most all time. Together, they represent the standard Aron is chasing and a major reason Chip Ganassi Racing continues to be a powerhouse in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“Sometimes I’ll ask Alex and (Palou’s strategist) Barry Wanser after their race day warmup what the track feels today?” Aron said. “What's the balance like? Is it a bit more oversteer? Is it a bit more understeer? What's going on out there? Anything interesting? Just kind of get their feedback as well. Just trying to pick up any information I can.”

The culture inside Chip Ganassi Racing stands out just as much as the results.

“Everyone is open and willing to help,” Aron said. “They’re some of the most humble people I’ve met in motorsports. That makes a huge difference. You feel comfortable asking questions and learning.”

That environment has produced 24 championships across multiple disciplines, including 17 in the INDYCAR SERIES. The team has won more than 270 races, highlighted by six Indianapolis 500 victories, eight Rolex 24 at Daytona wins, the Daytona 500, the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

One thing it has not done is win in INDY NXT competition, the top development series for INDYCAR.

Maybe that changes this weekend. Race 1 is at 4 p.m. ET Friday (FS2, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). Race 2 is at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday (FS1, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

The timing fits. Three of the four races this season have produced first-time winners. In the last eight opening races of the IMS doubleheader, four have gone to first-time victors, including last year, when Lochie Hughes broke through for Andretti Global.

“IMS was part of my childhood dreams,” Aron said. “It’s such a special place. You walk in, and it feels alive. It doesn’t just feel like a track, you feel alive. There’s no place like it.

“With Ganassi’s background there and wins from Alex, Marcus Ericsson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Scott, it would be very cool to add another win in Indianapolis. That would be icing on the cake.”

Bryce Aron

Aron (photo, above) enters the weekend 12th in points, though the number lacks context. His No. 9 Land Rover of Chesterfield entry is still developing on street circuits, where he finished 18th in the season’s first two races at St. Petersburg and Arlington.

The progress has been clearer on more traditional tracks. Aron recorded six top-10 finishes in the final 10 races last season, five on road courses or ovals. This year, he has two top-10 finishes, both at Barber Motorsports Park, where he placed eighth and seventh.

“Initially, joining CGR was a bit of a challenge,” Aron said. “But we’re making progress. Our oval and road course packages are very strong. We started this season on two street circuits where we knew we needed improvement. As we get into the core of the schedule, it should play to our strengths.”

That progress traces back to last season, when Aron joined Ganassi before the May 4 race at Barber Motorsports Park as the team returned to INDY NXT for the first time since 2008. Aron spent his rookie season in the series with Andretti Global in 2024. He drove for HMD Motorsports in Race 1 last year at St. Petersburg. With Ganassi’s lesser experience than its rivals in the current INDY NXT car, the focus last season was simplicity.

“We were learning how to run the car, including fluids, levels and all the basics,” Aron said. “Then we evolved into setup work and became competitive. (Teammate) Niels (Koolen) and I have different driving styles, so it was about understanding what each of us needs from the car, springs, geometry, downforce, dampers and working through everything. It’s been a process of elimination.”

This season, the foundation is in place. The lineup has expanded to four cars with veteran James Roe and rookie Carson Etter alongside Aron and Koolen. Expectations are rising with it.

“I’m very proud of everyone,” Aron said. “Early on, it was just about getting the cars running. Now everyone is pushing hard to make us competitive.”

The results have not come yet. The belief has.

“This team wants to win and we will get there,” Aron said. “Everyone is working very hard to make it happen.”