Editor’s Note: I was unable to attend the test today. Here is the report from IndyCar.
INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Oct. 27, 2025) – Sebastian Murray laid down the first marker for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, leading the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Oct. 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.Murray was quickest among 24 drivers turning laps on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit, stopping the clocks at 1 minute, 14.5035 seconds in the No. 27 Andretti Global car. Murray, from Scotland, finished 13th in the series standings in 2025 as a rookie for Andretti Cape INDY NXT before moving to the Andretti team after this season for 2026. SEE: Overall Test Results “Great day at IMS,” Murray said. “We finished P1, so obviously thrilled. The team was amazing today, and we learned a lot and improved a lot. We were obviously very fast all day, so massive thank you to the team.” The quick lap by Murray was the highlight of a strong performance for Andretti Global, whose drivers seized the top three spots on the time chart. Andretti Global drivers also have won the last two championships in the INDYCAR development series.Series veterans and Andretti newcomers Max Taylor and Josh Pierson ended up second and third, respectively. Taylor’s best lap was 1:14.6366 in the No. 28 car, while Pierson ended up at 1:14.6674 in the No. 29 machine. Taylor was quickest overall in the morning session at 1:15.0926. Nikita Johnson was fourth overall and the quickest rookie at the test, turning a best lap of 1:14.8849 in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports car. USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 series runner-up Johnson made three INDY NXT starts early in the 2025 season but will be eligible for Rookie of the Year honors in 2026. AJ Foyt Racing marked a successful return to the INDYCAR development series with USF Pro 2000 veteran and INDY NXT rookie Alessandro de Tullio rounding out the top five at 1:15.0406. The annual open test is named in memory of Chris Griffis, the team manager of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports who passed away suddenly in September 2011. Twenty-four drivers – three more than the burgeoning 21 cars that ran most of the 2025 season – combined to turn 1,728 laps over the two sessions of the test day. The 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season starts Sunday, March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Editor’s Note: Story from ECR. I will have follow up stories next week on IndyNXT and the IndyCar grid.
ECR Also Teams Up With Jay Howard Driver Development to Establish Direct Pathway to NTT INDYCAR SERIES
(INDIANAPOLIS) October 24, 2025 – ECR (Ed Carpenter Racing) announced today a partnership with Cape Motorsports to join the INDY NXT field in 2026. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR will field two entries in INDY NXT, the developmental series of INDYCAR. The teams will collaborate to provide technical support, testing opportunities for emerging drivers, and career development for engineers and mechanics. The INDY NXT entries will carry ECR’s team colors of Carpenter Blue and Indiana Gold, mirroring ECR’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES Chevrolets. In addition, ECR will partner with Jay Howard Driver Development in the USF Pro Championships (USF Juniors, USF2000, and USF Pro 2000). Similar to the entries in INDY NXT, the Jay Howard Driver Development cars will also race in ECR’s team colors and carry the Powered by ECR moniker. The new ladder of Jay Howard Driver Development, Cape Motorsports, and ECR establishes a direct pathway to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. ECR’s entry into INDY NXT is a natural progression for the team. Although ECR has competed exclusively in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012, the team has long maintained an eye for talent developed in the ladder series. ECR cars have been driven by three USF2000 champions, four USF Pro 2000 champions, and six INDY NXT champions. The team’s most recent race winner, Christian Rasmussen, is one of only two drivers in history to earn a championship in each division that currently feeds the NTT INDYCAR SERIES – USF2000 (2020), USF Pro 2000 (2021), and INDY NXT (2023). ECR team owner Ed Carpenter is a graduate of INDY NXT, having competed in the series in 2002 and 2003. “I’m very excited to bring these highly successful programs together to create a complete development path through the entire open-wheel ladder system,” Carpenter stated.“As ECR continues to grow and work toward becoming a championship-caliber team, this is an important step forward. This partnership should not only strengthen ECR, but also Cape Motorsports and JHDD. I’m looking forward to being involved and working with all of the programs and drivers in 2026 and beyond.” Cape Motorsports is a Brownsburg, Indiana–based racing team founded by brothers Dominic and Nicholas Cape in 2001. The team has competed in numerous levels of U.S. junior open-wheel series since its founding and has won 14 USF2000 titles in 21 years. In 2026, Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR will field two cars in INDY NXT. In late September, the team announced that one entry will be driven by Florida native Nikita Johnson, 17. “Partnering with ECR and Jay Howard Driver Development is an incredibly exciting step for Cape Motorsports,” said Dominic and Nicholas Cape, co-owners of Cape Motorsports. “This collaboration brings together three organizations that share the same passion for discovering and shaping young talent. From karting to INDYCAR, we’re building a pathway that gives drivers every opportunity to grow, learn, and ultimately succeed at the highest level. For us, it’s about more than just racing, it’s about building the next generation of champions.” With a mission of developing drivers internally, Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) guides drivers from their early days in karting through the junior ranks of open-wheel racing. The team is led by Jay Howard, the only driver in history to win the USF2000 championship both as a driver and as a team owner. JHDD is headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, near the location of ECR’s future race shop. Howard stated, “I would like to thank Ted (Gelov, ECR Chairman) and Ed for this opportunity. This is something I had envisioned back when I started this driver development program. Under the ECR banner, we are the only development program of its kind that will be able to take drivers from karts to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, which is phenomenal.” He continued, “The future is bright for everyone involved! We will proudly represent Java House, Splenda, and ECR in it’s a new era and we are ready to get to work.” The first Powered by ECR entry will take to the track next week. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR will participate in the annual INDY NXT Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Monday, October 27, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
About Ed Carpenter Racing Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by team co-owner Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). For the 2025 season, Alexander Rossi joined the team as driver of the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet while Christian Rasmussen has been elevated full-time driver of the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet. Carpenter completed ECR’s three-car lineup in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. More information on Ed Carpenter Racing may be found at http://www.ecrindy.com/.
Editor’s note: Story from A J Foyt Racing. It is great to see another IndyCar team affiliated with IndyNXT.
INDIANAPOLIS (October 21, 2025) — AJ Foyt Racing will extend its program into the INDY NXT by Firestone championship beginning in 2026. The team will field a two-car effort as it looks to build a strong foundation for drivers, crew, engineers, partners, and more for the future. Backed by a Strategic Alliance with HMD Motorsports, this collaboration represents the next step in strengthening the connection between INDY NXT by Firestone and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, creating a more straightforward pathway for driver and team personnel development.
The young drivers of the INDY NXT by Firestone championship get ready for the start at Nashville Superspeedway. (INDYCAR Photo)
While AJ Foyt Racing will maintain its own brand and identity, the new program emphasizes the team’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of INDYCAR talent. By working with not only drivers but also crew members looking to make a move to the INDYCAR SERIES earlier in their careers, the organization aims to provide a more integrated and structured approach to preparing all for the top level of American open-wheel racing.
Founded in 1965 by four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, AJ Foyt Racing is an iconic and respected name in motorsports. With multiple championships across the various sanctioning bodies of INDYCAR racing over the years, the team has built a legacy rooted in excellence, perseverance, and innovation. Under the leadership of Larry Foyt, the team continues to uphold its long-standing commitment to developing competitive talent and advancing the sport.
The addition the program marks AJ Foyt Racing’s second foray into the INDY NXT by Firestone championship.. In 2002, A.J. Foyt IV won the first INDY NXT by Firestone championship. Ed Carpenter drove for the team in 2003 and won the Freedom 100, the Series’ inaugural race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“This has been a long time coming,” commented AJ Foyt Racing Team President Larry Foyt. “We’ve
played a significant role in developing drivers who have gone on to compete at the top level of INDYCAR. We felt it was time to get involved in the INDY NXT by Firestone program again. Forming a Technical and Strategic Alliance with HMD Motorsports provides the experience and technical support to make our INDY NXT program as strong and effective as possible.”
HMD Motorsports brings extensive experience in the INDY NXT by Firestone championship to the new alliance program. Since joining the series in 2019 and competing full-time from 2021 onward, the team has earned both a team title and two driver championships, multiple rookie of the year honors, and promoted several drivers into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. HMD will provide technical support and series insight to AJ Foyt Racing’s INDY NXT program.
“We are thrilled to announce this Strategic Alliance with AJ Foyt Racing,” commented HMD Motorsports Team President Mike Maurini. “This is the next step in making the pathway to INDYCAR more accessible to talented drivers throughout the INDY NXT paddock. Together, our teams will combine experience and resources to help develop the next generation of competitive drivers.”
The partnership will combine AJ Foyt Racing’s INDYCAR experience with HMD Motorsports’ success in INDY NXT to support driver development and prepare rising talent for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. AJ Foyt Racing will make its INDY NXT by Firestone debut in 2026 with further details on the driver lineup and program to be announced in the coming months.
NEWTON, Iowa (Friday, July 11, 2025) – Inclement weather forced the cancellation of the first day of NTT INDYCAR SERIES action at Iowa Speedway, setting up a busy two days for the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend. NTT INDYCAR SERIES races will be held as scheduled. The Synk 275 powered by Sukup is set for 5 p.m. ET Saturday followed by the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Both races will air live on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will be first on the .894-mile oval Saturday with install laps beginning at 9:55 a.m. followed by 30 minutes of high-line group running. All cars will get 45 minutes of regular practice beginning at 10:45 a.m. FS2 will air live coverage of the sessions. The 75-lap INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway race will be held at noon ET on FS1 .NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying will move to 1:30 p.m. on FS1. Each car will be permitted two timed laps, the first helping to set the starting lineup for the Synk 275 powered by Sukup. The second lap will do the same for the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup.
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course in Lexington, Ohio
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport: 90 laps / 203.22 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio: 35 laps / 79.03 miles / 55 minutes
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total time.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 365 kilojoules (kj) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryover sets from the Detroit event may be used during pre-qualifying practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
Simon Pagenaud, 1:03.8700, 127.271 mph, July 30, 2016
INDY NXT by Firestone
Caio Collet, 1:10.2879, 115.650 mph, July 6, 2024
FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 10:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Warmup, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live); Race, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 8:35 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1; Qualifying, 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race, 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Nick Yeoman are the turn announcers. Michael Young, Ryan Myrehn and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport race (12:30 p.m. ET Sunday), INDY NXT Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (10:25 a.m. ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, JULY 4
3:05-3:50 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, FS2 (live)
4:35-5:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1, FS2 (live)
SATURDAY, JULY 5
8:35-9:20 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, FS1 (live)
10:30-11:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes of green flag or 60 total minutes), FS1 (live)
1:30-2 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12 minutes each), FS1 (live)
2:35-4 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)
SUNDAY, JULY 6
9:32-9:57 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup, FS1 (live)
10:31 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio command to start engines
10:36 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (35 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (live)
12:27 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
1:15 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport command to start engines
1:22 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport (90 laps/203.22 miles), FOX (live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:
The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport is the 10th race of the 2025 season. There have been two winners in nine NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2025 season. Alex Palou (Streets of St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club, Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Indianapolis 500 and Road America) and Kyle Kirkwood (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit and World Wide Technology Raceway).
The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport will be the 42nd INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Pato O’Ward won the race in 2024. Johnny Rutherford won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio in 1980.
Scott Dixon is the winningest INDYCAR SERIES driver at Mid-Ohio with six victories (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2019). Emerson Fittipaldi won at Mid-Ohio three times, while Michael Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Teo Fabi, Josef Newgarden, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr. and Alex Zanardi all won at Mid-Ohio twice. Past winners Dixon, Newgarden (2017 and 2021), Graham Rahal (2015), Alexander Rossi (2018), Will Power (2020-Race-1), Colton Herta (2020-Race 2), Scott McLaughlin (2022), Alex Palou (2023) and Pato O’Ward (2024) are entered this year.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER
WINS
SEASONS
Scott Dixon
6
2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019
Josef Newgarden
2
2017, 2021
Graham Rahal
1
2015
Alexander Rossi
1
2018
Will Power
1
2020 Race 1
Colton Herta
1
2020 Race 2
Scott McLaughlin
1
2022
Alex Palou
1
2023
Pato O’Ward
1
2024
Fifteen drivers have won the race from the pole – Mario Andretti (1984), Bobby Rahal (1985), Roberto Guerrero (1987), Teo Fabi (1989), Michael Andretti (1990, 1991), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1996), Patrick Carpentier (2002), Paul Tracy (2003), Scott Dixon (2011), Simon Pagenaud (2016), Alexander Rossi (2018), Will Power (2020-Race 1), Colton Herta (2020-Race 2) and Josef Newgarden (2021). Power has won five poles at Mid-Ohio, the most of any driver.
ACTIVE POLE WINNER
POLES
SEASONS
Will Power
5
2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020 Race 1
Scott Dixon
2
2011, 2015
Colton Herta
2
2020 Race 2, 2023
Alexander Rossi
1
2018
Josef Newgarden
1
2021
Pato O’Ward
1
2022
Alex Palou
1
2024
Twenty-four drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at Mid-Ohio. Scott Dixon (21) has made the most starts at Mid-Ohio among the entered drivers. Twelve drivers have led laps at the track (Dixon 265, Will Power 206, Josef Newgarden 162, Alex Palou 101, Colton Herta 99, Alexander Rossi 71, Pato O’Ward 52, Scott McLaughlin 48, Graham Rahal 30, Conor Daly 22, Felix Rosenqvist 15, Marcus Ericsson 3).
Chip Ganassi Racing has won 12 times at Mid-Ohio, including nine of the 19 races sanctioned by INDYCAR. Ganassi’s winning drivers are Alex Zanardi (1996, 1997), Juan Pablo Montoya (1999), Scott Dixon (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019), Dario Franchitti (2010), Charlie Kimball (2013) and Alex Palou (2023).
Team Penske also has 12 wins at the track with Emerson Fittipaldi (1992, 1993), Al Unser Jr. (1994, 1995), Helio Castroneves (2000, 2001), Ryan Briscoe (2008), Simon Pagenaud (2016), Josef Newgarden (2017, 2021), Will Power (2020-Race 1) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).
Scott Dixon has finished in the top five in 14 of his 21 starts at Mid-Ohio, including six wins between 2007 and 2020 … Will Power has finished in the top five in 11 of his 17 starts at Mid-Ohio … Kyle Kirkwood won eight of nine development series starts from 2018-21.
Rookies Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time this weekend.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 349th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 249th consecutive start, breaking a tie with Marco Andretti for the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 212th consecutive start, breaking a tie with Jimmy Vasser for the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record to 412 with a start Sunday.
INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:
The INDY NXT by Firestone title fight between Andretti Global drivers Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes starts its second half with the series’ annual visit to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Hauger, who has recorded five top-two finishes this season, heads to Mid-Ohio with a 28-point lead over Hughes, a two-time race winner this season. The ultra-competitive 2025 season has seen three winners in seven races so far, with six different drivers finishing on the podium.
Caio Collet returns to Mid-Ohio looking for his second consecutive race win in 2024. The 23-year-old Brazilian driver scored his first INDY NXT by Firestone win at Mid-Ohio in 2024 and is aiming to become the first INDY NXT driver to win at Mid-Ohio in back-to-back seasons since Santiago Urrutia swept a doubleheader in 2016 and won the first race of the 2017 doubleheader.
The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio will be the series’ 37th race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, dating to the American Racing Series race in 1986. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Mid-Ohio include Paul Tracy, Bryan Herta, Townsend Bell, Raphael Matos, Jack Harvey, Pato O’Ward, Kyle Kirkwood, Linus Lundqvist and Louis Foster.
Push to Pass could play a key strategic role at Mid-Ohio as INDY NXT by Firestone drivers will have a bank of 150 seconds to use an added 50 horsepower to assist in overtaking, similar to the drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The maximum amount of time for each press of the overtake system is 15 seconds.
Group qualifying will decide the starting grid on road and street circuits. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group.
A robust size crowd and sunny skies has the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg off to a great start. While waiting for the 3:05 pm start to IndyCar practice, I took a walk through the midway. It looks like there are more vendors than last year, and a new fan amenity has been added to the lawn in front of the Mahaffey Theater. Tables and chairs are set up, and a big screen television is attached s above the theater. The set up is similar to the fan plaza at the Rolex in Daytona for the 24 race.
The lines for the autograph session are usually long, but one line in particular today was one of the longest I’ve ever seen. I can only assume Pato O’Ward was at a table for this line. This photo is just a portion of the line.
The foreground is about halfway to the autograph tables.
Some drivers from Indy NXT and IndyCar met with the media this morning. I thought there was more media present than I’ve seen here in a few years.
Sophia Floersch will make her Indy NXT debut this afternoon.Pato O’Ward Alexander Rossi
PREMA, the new IndyCar team, arrived in style with an impressive looking paddock.
I’ll be back after practice with a wrap-up for the day.
Race weekend: Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 2Track: Streets of St. Petersburg, 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit (clockwise) through downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, including a runway of Albert Whitted Airport
Race distance: 100 laps/180 miles (NTT INDYCAR SERIES) | 45 laps/81 miles/55 minutes (INDY NXT by Firestone) Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation Hybrid energy deployment parameters: (NTT INDYCAR SERIES) Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 310 kilojoules (kj) per lap Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend with one new set used for qualifying and another new set used during the race. A carryover set from the preseason testing may be used during the first practice. X: @GPSTPETE, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCARInstagram: @gpstpete, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCARFacebook: @GPSTPETE, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCARTikTok: @IndyCar, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCARYouTube: @INDYCAR, @greensavoreeracingpromotions Event website: www.gpstpete.comINDYCAR website: www.indycar.com NTT INDYCAR SERIESPato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)INDY NXT by FirestoneNolan Siegel (No. 39 HMD Motorsports) 2024 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Josef Newgarden (No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet), 59.5714 seconds, 108.777 mph 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Nolan Siegel (No. 39 HMD Motorsports), 1 minute, 4.5759 seconds, 100.347 mph Qualifying records: NTT INDYCAR SERIESWill Power, 59.3466 seconds, 109.189 mph, Feb. 26, 2022 (set in Round 2 of qualifying) INDY NXT by FirestoneNolan Siegel, 1 minute, 4.5759 seconds, 100.347 mph, March 9, 2024 FOX Sports telecasts: Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET, Friday, FS1 (live); Practice 2, 10 a.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Warmup, 9 a.m. ET Sunday, FS2 (live); Race, noon ET Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman and Jake Query are the turn announcers. Michael Young, Alex Wollf and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. At-track schedule (All Times Local/Eastern Time): Friday, Feb. 28 2-2:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 3:05-4:25 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, FS1
Saturday, March 1 9:15-9:55 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 10:15-11:15 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (Limited guarantee of 45 minutes of green flag time), FS2 1:30-2 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (Two groups, 12-minute session with green flag of one timed lap), FS2 2:30-4 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1
Sunday, March 2 9:02-9:27 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS2 10:10 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (45 laps/81 miles/55 minutes), FS1 (Live) Noon – FOX Sports on air 12:22 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines” 12:29 p.m. – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (100 laps/181 miles), FOX, FOX Sports Deportes, FOX Sports App (Live) “WHAT TO LOOK FOR” AT ST. PETERSBURG: Palou begins historic title chase: Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou arrives at the season opener as the defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion for the third time in four seasons.The three-time series champion from Spain will look to make history by becoming the first back-to-back-to-back champion since Dario Franchitti won three titles in a row for Chip Ganassi Racing from 2009-11.Only three previous drivers have won three successive INDYCAR SERIES championships. Ted Horn won three straight from 1946-48, SebastienBourdais won four straight from 2004-07 and Franchitti. Dixon eyeing first St. Pete win: Scott Dixon has six NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships, which trails only the seven INDYCAR SERIES titles collected by A.J. Foyt. His 58 wins rank second on the all-time INDYCAR SERIES victory list, behind Foyt’s 67, but the streets of St. Petersburg might be his kryptonite. It is one of five tracks on the schedule where Dixon is winless and the one where he has the most starts (20). Dixon has been successful on the streets of St. Petersburg. Dixon has four runner-up finishes at the circuit and has an average finish of 7.6 in his 20 previous starts. He has finished in the top 10 in his last nine starts, including seventh in 2024.
Power Plays Poles at Will: Will Power is the greatest qualifier in modern INDYCAR SERIES history, as his 70 career poles are the INDYCAR SERIES record. The tale of Power’s qualifying success can best be told through the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where he has won nine of the last 15 poles.The only drivers to score a pole in the last 10 years in St. Petersburg not named Will Power are Takuma Sato in 2014, Robert Wickens in 2018, Colton Herta in 2021, Scott McLaughlin in 2022, Romain Grosjean in 2023 and Josef Newgarden last season.Power scored at least one pole position in each season from 2009-2023 but didn’t win an NTT P1 Award last year. Don’t be surprised if he starts a new streak at St. Pete.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will be the 22nd INDYCAR SERIES race on the streets of St. Petersburg. Pato O’Ward won the 2024 race, while Josef Newgarden won the NTT P1 Award. Paul Tracy won the inaugural INDYCAR SERIES race on Feb. 23, 2003, under CART sanction, while Sebastien Bourdais started from the pole that year.The St. Petersburg INDYCAR SERIES race has been run every year since 2003 except for 2004. No driver has competed in every St. Petersburg race, but Scott Dixon has started 20 consecutive races.Will Power (2010, 2014) and Josef Newgarden (2019, 2020) are the only entered drivers to win at St. Petersburg more than once. Seven past winners are entered: Power, Newgarden, Graham Rahal (2008), Colton Herta (2021), Scott McLaughlin (2022), Marcus Ericsson (2023) and Pato O’Ward (2024). Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou arrives at the season opener as the defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion for the third time in four seasons. The three-time series champion will look to make history by becoming the first back-to-back-to-back champion since Dario Franchitti won three in a row for Chip Ganassi Racing from 2009-11. Team Penske has won at St. Petersburg 11 times, including seven of the last 13 races with Helio Castroneves (2012), Will Power (2014), Juan Pablo Montoya (2015, 2016), Josef Newgarden (2019, 2020) and Scott McLaughlin (2022). Four drivers have won the race from the pole – Helio Castroneves (2007), Will Power (2010), Colton Herta (2021) and Scott McLaughlin (2022). The St. Petersburg winner has qualified fourth in five of the last 20 races. Milestones: Scott Dixon is expected to make his 403rd INDYCAR SERIES start, which is second on the all-time list. Dixon has made 339 consecutive starts heading into the weekend, the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history… Colton Herta is slated to make his 100th INDYCAR SERIES start at St. Petersburg…Rookies Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman will make their NTT INDYCAR SERIES debuts at St. Petersburg. Both Abel and Foster have race at St. Pete in INDY NXT by Firestone.
INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:Season starter: INDY NXT by Firestone drops the green flag on a new season on the streets of St. Petersburg for the 13th time in series history. The 14-race 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone calendar brings the series to many of North America’s most revered tracks joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at the streets of St. Petersburg, Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, streets of Detroit, World Wide Technology Raceway, Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Iowa Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Portland International Raceway, Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway.Local favorite: Representing Florida in this weekend’s field is series debutant Nikita Johnson of HMD Motorsports. The 16-year-old from St. Petersburg is making the first of four INDY NXT by Firestone starts this season in his hometown event. Johnson finished second in the USF Pro 2000 championship in 2024 and won races at St. Petersburg in the series that feed INDY NXT .International flair: This weekend’s race will feature drivers representing 10 countries. The United States is best represented by a total of eight drivers. There are two drivers each from Australia, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and one each from Brazil, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Scotland. Welcome back: For the third consecutive season, INDY NXT by Firestone welcomes a new team to the paddock. Chip Ganassi Racing will make its series return in 2025 running a pair of full-time cars beginning at St. Petersburg. The 16-time INDYCAR SERIES championship-winning team last competed in INDYCAR’s top development series in 2007. St. Pete precursor?: Since 2005, a driver who won at least one of the races at St. Petersburg has gone on to win the INDY NXT by Firestone title six times, the most recent being Kyle Kirkwood, who won the first race of the doubleheader in 2021.
For thise who want to see qualifying and practice, IndyCar Live is providibng a 24 hour delay vieweing for just $19.99 a year. This is probably the best alternative to those who don’t have FS1 or FS2.
The package includes, per the the site:
Available after 24 hrs:
INDYCAR Races plus practice and qualifying
INDY NXT Races plus practice and qualifying
Replays from the 2022, 2023 & 2024 seasons
Live INDYCAR in-car cameras
Plus Race, team and driver video-shorts and classic racing
The price is less than a full IndyCar season on Peacock cost.
FOX will have a streaming service available by the end of the year, so hopefully 2025 is the only season where some fans might be inconvenienced.
Replays
FOX is offering severalreplays on FS1 and FS2.
This is great for those who have access to the alternate channels.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 