But who will emerge as the true Front runners next
year?
There seems to have been a seismic shift in
Indy NXT for the forthcoming 2026 season. With nearly half of the IndyCar grid
now being involved. Which I suppose you could say swells to six IndyCar team
“alliances”, if we include Cusik Morgan Motorsports.
Not sure when the Ball began rolling forwards,
since I missed the kickoff; Oopsadaisy, Butterfingers! With Chip Ganassi Racing
“Doubling Down” when expanding to four cars next year.
As this seems to be inline wit the new
regulations allowing a maximum grid of 24 cars and teams being limited to four
entries apiece.
Thus interestingly, HMD Motorsports, who’ve run
with a nine car armada the past few seasons now fields just four cars itself.
But also enters a technical and strategic alliance with the newly reformed A.J.
Foyt Enterprises two car entry.
Whilst HMD Motorsports also provides the
“muscle” behind the two car Cusik Morgan Motorsports entry, hence seeing HMD
involved with eight entries overall.
Also joining the fray is Ed Carpenter Racing, forming
a technical alliance with Cape Motorsports who previously partnered with
Andretti Global last season. As the team will now be known as Cape Motorsports
Powered by ECR, running a two car entry.
Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) returns after a
one year hiatus with its traditional two car entry. While Andretti Global,
current reigning back-to-back Indy NXT Champions continues its march on the
competition with its usual, stout four car entry.
As it was new Andretti Global recruit Sebastian
Murry being quickest during the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test outing held
on October 27th on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s permanent road course.
As Murray led a 1-2-3 sweep with Andretti
teammates Max Taylor and Josh Pierson close behind. With the pair also being
new to Andretti.
Nikita Johnson in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports
entry was the day’s quickest rookie. With rookie Alessandro de Tullio rounding out the Top-5
aboard the No. 14 Foyt entry.
Yet as typical, one shouldn’t read too much
into testing times. Especially with the top two title protagonists Lochie
Hughes and Myles Rowe working upon their driving styles and testing the new
Xtractransmission., instead of hunting for quick times.
As Hughes, who was having to “recompute” after
having driven an IndyCar for the first time ever a Fortnight earlier, said it
was a little bit strange going back to the NXT
chassis. With the Aussie’ finishing sixth overall. While Myles Rowe was
P7, with the pair finishing third and fourth last year respectively.
Hughes was one of the seven drivers running the
new for 2026 Xtrac semi-automatic gearbox, which replaces the older units.
Xtrac had one new unit for each of seven teams
to test, with additional ballast added to ensure bench-line testing vs. the
older, heavier spec transmissions.
And speaking of Aussie’s’, a total of four took
part in the test, with three now being confirmed. As HMD Motorsports who ran a
quartet of European race series talent. Confirmed 17yr old rookie Josh Beeton
following the test, as the first of its four announced drivers…
Oh Contrair, Enzo Fittipaldi, younger brother
of Pietro was confirmed on October 30th. Wit the 24yr old former F2 driver
saying that His goal now is IndyCar. Uhm, just like All of the others Enzo!
Beeton joins the aforementioned Hughes, with
fellow rookie Nicolas Stati confirmed at Cusik Morgan Motorsports. Whilst Tommy
smith tested for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Twenty-four car took part in the test;
Arse-sumedly the entire field, with a total of 13 rookies participating. With
the following teams and number of entries as follows.
Abel Motorsports, (4) includes single Abel
Motorsports with Force Indy entry. A.J. Foyt enterprises, (2) Andretti Global,
(4) Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR, (2) Chip Ganassi Racing, (4) Cusik Morgan
Motorsports, (2) HMD Motorsports (4) and Juncos Hollinger Racing. (2)
Chris Griffis Test Outing Recap
As the majority of the Indy NXT field will be
sawing logs for the foreseeable Winter’s Slumber. With another Gory 88 days
until the season kickoff at St Pete on March 1st, 2026, G-R-R-R-Roan!
Since I don’t know if any of these Indy NXT
drivers will be making cameos at the forthcoming Rolex 24?
As it looks like a pretty stout field, as the driving talent only seems to be ratcheting up with the steady influx of European lads’ coming across thoust gory Puddle…
