For most INDYCAR drivers, navigating 90 laps of high-speed precision through the tight corners and concrete barriers of Long Beach is challenge enough. For 19-year-old rookie Nolan Siegel, the challenge reached a whole new level: doing it while battling severe food poisoning.
The Arrow McLaren driver, who impressed in qualifying with a P11 start, was visibly off his usual pace during Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach — and for good reason. After falling ill overnight, Siegel faced the near-impossible decision: sit out one of the most prestigious races on the calendar, or grit it out behind the wheel.
He chose the latter.
“Racing with food poisoning: 0/10, do not recommend,” Siegel shared candidly on social media after the race. “Obviously, I wasn’t 100% today, but I’m proud that I gave it my all.”
A grueling day behind the wheel
Despite his physical condition, Siegel held on to finish the race in 20th — a result that might not jump off the leaderboard, but stands as a testament to his resilience, mental toughness, and determination to honor the team effort behind the car.
According to sources close to Arrow McLaren, the young Californian required support from the INDYCAR Medical Team before and after the race, as his symptoms worsened throughout the weekend. At one point, it was unclear whether he would be able to take the green flag at all.
“Obviously, I wasn’t 100% today, but I’m proud that I gave it my all. Even still, I am a bit disappointed that we aren’t coming away from this weekend with a better result. The No. 6 onsemi Arrow McLaren Chevrolet had good pace, but it wasn’t a totally clean day and we left some points on the table.“
A Team that has his Back
While teammate Christian Lundgaard surged to a podium finish and media attention was focused on Kyle Kirkwood’s dominant win, Arrow McLaren internally recognized the depth of their team performance — with each driver playing a role under different circumstances.
Siegel’s engineering crew made subtle setup changes throughout warm-up to accommodate his compromised stamina, and pit strategy was adapted slightly to reduce physical strain.
With three races down, Nolan Siegel currently sits 23rd in the championship standings with 26 points — but remains optimistic about the season ahead. The next event at Barber Motorsports Park on May 4 will mark another new challenge, as the natural-terrain circuit demands both technical precision and physical endurance. This time, he hopes to be fully healthy and able to show more of what he’s capable of.
Philipp Kraus
