Ed Carpenter Racing Signs 16-Year-old Josh Pierson to IndyCar Deal

At just 16, Josh Pierson is on the fast track to the NTT IndyCar Series.

Ed Carpenter Racing on Tuesday announced that it has added Pierson to its stable as part of a new driver development program with an eye on putting Pierson in an Indy car by 2025. Team owner Carpenter plans to take Pierson under his wing and personally mentor the racing prodigy.

Pierson is fresh from a LMP2 podium finish in the WEC season final at Bahrain. In LMP2, American Pierson teamed with Alex Lynn and Oliver Jarvis of United Autosports to finish second in class in Bahrain. Pierson and Jarvis finished third in the season driving championship in the class.

"It’s been a very eventful year and it’s gone by so fast," Pierson said. "Great to start the year in Sebring with a win, but we’ve been plagued with unfortunate scenarios which set us back when it came to scoring more podiums and wins. We definitely had a crew that was capable of it—we’ve had really fast pit stops today and good driver changes too. It was nice to end the season with a podium even if it wasn’t on the top step—a nice segway into next year.”

Pierson will begin testing one of ECR’s Chevrolet-powered Indy cars in 2023.

“I’m honored by the confidence Ed Carpenter has placed in me and so incredibly grateful to have a path to IndyCar with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Pierson. “I’ve been dreaming about racing in the NTT IndyCar Series for as long as I can remember.”