Graham Rahal sat next to Nolan Siegel during the Bump Day news conference following a thrilling Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Last Chance Qualifying session last May. Rahal and Siegel were two of four drivers competing in the hour-long session, allowing unlimited four-lap qualifying attempts in hopes of taking one of the final three spots into the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Siegel crashed his No. 18 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing while making the final qualifying attempt to bump Rahal out of the field of 33.
“Took a swing at it to try and find a half mile an hour to get to where Graham was at,” Siegel said. “I was going to go home because I went flat and did everything I could do. I wasn't going to go home because I lifted, so here I am.”
The way Siegel handled the situation impressed Rahal.
“Nolan (Siegel) is a young kid,” Rahal said May 19. “He has a bright future, and I expect to see him back here and doing great things. I've got a tremendous amount of respect for Nolan. He may be a new name to a lot of people, but he's a name that you are going to become familiar with. He's won at every level. He's won at everything he's done. He'll be here. He's going to be winning here. There's no doubt about that.”
Siegel returned to IMS on Oct. 10 to complete the Rookie Orientation for a second time, six months to the date of finishing the prerequisite for Indy 500 participation April 10. Siegel had to take the test again because he still is classified as an Indy 500 rookie for the 109th Running next May 25 because he has yet to start the race.
“We got it done,” Siegel said. “Excited to come back to the Open Test in April and just get right at it. It’s good to be back here and driving again. So glad we got the program done. Everything feels good, and we’re all set.”
Siegel competed the last two seasons in INDY NXT by Firestone with HMD Motorsports, winning two races in 2023 en route to series Rookie of the Year honors and a third-place finish in the standings. Siegel opened this season with a victory on the streets of St. Petersburg.
In between INDY NXT races, Siegel also made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut this year with Dale Coyne Racing, competing in the exhibition race at The Thermal Club and making his points-paying debut in April at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Siegel failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge with DCR. He then returned to his INDY NXT seat on the streets of Detroit before substituting for veteran Agustin Canapino at Juncos Hollinger Racing on June 9 at Road America.
The 19-year-old California native signed with Arrow McLaren in late June to drive the final 10 races of the 2024 season - the first of a multiyear deal with the team.
The experiences of completing the same Rookie Orientation Program with two different teams were eye-opening. Siegel didn’t have much NTT INDYCAR SERIES seat time with Dale Coyne Racing prior to completing ROP in April.
“It’s (Arrow McLaren) obviously a bigger organization,” Siegel said. “I’ve spent a lot more time with these people than I had with Coyne. I’m feeling a lot more comfortable. It’s just time in the car, time with the people, so we got through the program no problem this time. No nerves compared to the first time out at the Speedway. It was definitely a different experience, and I think it will continue to be a different experience.
“I’m so much more comfortable with where I’m at. I know what’s going on. I know what to expect. When I get in the car, we can get straight to it. There’s no more kind of figuring things out.”
Also, completing Rookie Orientation in the fall compared to the Open Test next spring allows Siegel to be better prepared for a second attempt in making the “500” next May.
“Having done this now instead of doing it at the Open Test is going to make everything better,” he said. “Just to get straight into it and I will have more preparation, more time with the team, more time in the car and more actual practice here at the track before the race next year.”