Indy NXT motorists take part in all-day test session at
The increasing stars of INDYCAR racing got a possibility to experience the “Fastest Brief Track on the Planet “Monday as INDY NXT by Firestone hosted a day-long series open test at Iowa Speedway in preparation for the upcoming Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend, July 11-13.
In all, 21 automobiles required to the fast 7/8 of a mile oval throughout the day with INDY NXT competitors turning a combined 3,209 laps on the track that was partly resurfaced prior to the 2024 INDYCAR weekend in Iowa.
IndyCar NXT chauffeur Dennis Hauger is currently first in the point standings.(Troy Hyde/Newton News)The talented young field revealed solid speed on the day as majority of the drivers screening exceeded the main INDY NXT track record
lap at Iowa Speedway.The morning test session was paced by second-year INDY NXT by Firestone motorist Myles Rowe. Driving the No. 99 car for ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy, Rowe posted a leading lap of 18.6687 seconds (172.396 miles per hour) to get the day of rest to a quick start at Iowa Speedway.
Rowe’s leading morning time was faster than the main INDY NXT by Firestone track record lap of 18.8114 seconds developed by James Roe last season when he won the pole for the 2024 series race at Iowa Speedway.
The lap times continued to drop as track temperatures rose throughout the afternoon session on Monday.
Josh Pierson clocked the fastest time in the afternoon and the quickest general lap on the day as he published a leading time of 18.2750 seconds (176.109 mph) in the No. 14 automobile for HMD Motorsports.
In all, 11 of the 21 cars that checked on Monday posted times that were unofficially faster than Roe’s track record pole-winning lap from last season.
“P1 to end the day, so strong step for us,” stated Pierson, contending in his 3rd INDY NXT season in 2025. “I think the ovals last year were an area we particularly struggled in. So, really delighted with that to appear here and have some pace to reveal for it. All in all, I believe we discovered our method throughout the day, and gradually made steps. This is such a special track, particularly after the repave now. It’s kind of got some rough (corner) entry still, however then in the mid corner and the exit, it’s so smooth now that you actually just need to push the entry stage. I’m ecstatic about our development, particularly in single-car runs, and looking forward to (the oval race in) St. Louis this weekend and coming back here to Iowa in July.”
IndyCar NXT Series chauffeur Lochie Hughes is presently second in the points standings. Hughes belonged to an all-day testing session at Iowa Speedway on Monday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)
INDY NXT by Firestone champion leader Dennis Hauger of the Andretti Global team tape-recorded the second fastest lap of the test in general.
Winner of 4 of the very first 5 series races of the season, Hauger published a leading time of 18.3798 seconds (175.105 mph) in the No. 28 device. Fellow champion competitor, series rookie and Andretti Global teammate Lochie Hughes owned the third-fastest lap of test.
Hughes, who ranks 2nd in the series standings and is currently 38 points behind Hauger, posted a quick lap of 18.5184 seconds (173.795 mph) during Monday’s afternoon session. Salvador de Alba of Andretti Global, who completed third in last season’s INDY NXT race at Iowa Speedway, was 4th fastest in screening while Rowe completed the top 5 in Monday’s total rundown.