Chilton ends IndyCar career, aims for Le Mans return

Ex-Formula 1 driver Chilton switched to the US open-wheel scene in 2015 with the Carlin team, he and the squad entering the Indy Lights series together. Despite missing three races, Chilton finished fifth in the championship, partly thanks to victory at Iowa Speedway. He also took three pole positions.

The following year, Chilton graduated to IndyCar with the Chip Ganassi Racing team, and in 2017 led 50 laps of the Indianapolis 500, eventually finishing fourth.

When Carlin moved up to IndyCar in 2018, inevitably Chilton, whose father Grahame has been part-owner of the squad since 2009, switched across. That first year for Carlin was tough for all concerned, but it was the following year’s DNQ at Indy that prompted Chilton to quit all ovals bar the 500.

This became a self-imposed policy for 2020 and ’21, Chilton admitting at the time that he didn’t like the restricted practice time on most ovals. He said he preferred the methodology of Indy, where he and his peers had adequate time to build up to speed and learn “respect” for each other over the course of several practice days, rather than the “free-for-all” nature of practice sessions and races in an increasingly condensed oval weekend schedule.

Now, following the announcement that he is helping McMurtry Automotive develop its Speirling EV track car, Chilton has revealed his time in IndyCar is over – although he’s not retiring from the sport.

“I genuinely feel like this opportunity with McMurtry is meant to be,” the 30-year-old Briton told  Autosport. “I’ve been in IndyCar for a number of years, and I’ve also always had other interests.

“It was my decision to stop IndyCar and it’s something I’ve been thinking about it for a little while. I had a couple of businesses that