Indy NXT - St. Pete

The Indy NXT by Firestone race at the St Petersburg Street Course represents the opening round of the series. St. Pete hosts this indylights competition on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, where 24 full-time entries will compete in a 45-lap race broadcast live on FS1. The event features practice sessions, qualifying, and the main race spanning across three days of competition.

St Petersburg Street Course Layout

The St Petersburg Street Course is a temporary circuit that measures 1.8 miles with 14 turns. The track includes five left-hand corners and nine right-hand turns. The circuit runs through downtown St. Petersburg and uses a section of runway at Albert Whitted Airport. The layout features a tight right-hander at Turn 1, followed by a quick left turn. Several long straights with heavy braking zones provide opportunities for overtaking. The circuit holds an FIA Grade 2 classification.

The pit and paddock areas were built in 2003 and remain as permanent structures. The link from Dan Wheldon Way to the airport runway, which includes turns 11, 12, and 13, also serves as a permanent fixture. The straight after Turn 10 carries the name Dan Wheldon Way, honoring the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion who lived in the area.

2026 Indy NXT Competitors

The St. Pete indylights race features the largest grid since 2009, with 24 full-time entries competing. A new rule limits teams to four cars maximum, though some organizations maintain technical partnerships to support additional entries under different team names.

Team Lineups

Abel Motorsports fields four drivers including Max Garcia, Jordan Missig, Colin Kaminsky, and Myles Rowe. Andretti Global enters Lochie Hughes, Sebastian Murray, Max Taylor, and Josh Pierson. AJ Foyt Racing brings Nicholas Monteiro and Alessandro de Tullio to St. Pete. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR runs Matteo Nannini and Nikita Johnson.

Chip Ganassi Racing operates a four-car program with James Roe, Bryce Aron, Niels Koelen, and Carson Etter. Cusick Morgan Motorsports enters Juan Manuel Correa. HMD Motorsports fields Salvador de Alba, Jack Beeton, Enzo Fittipaldi, and Tymek Kucharczyk. Juncos Hollinger Racing completes the field with Ricardo Escotto and Alexander Koreiba.

Technical Specifications

All Indy NXT cars use a spec Dallara IL-15 chassis. The cars run a spec AER engine, which is a Mazda-sourced 2.0-liter unit. The series introduces new six-speed Xtrac transmissions for this season, replacing the original Ricardo units. The new transmission includes a semi-automatic shifting system.

Firestone provides exclusive tire supply for the series. The tires feature Bridgestone's global ENLITEN Technology, which focuses on sustainability. Nearly 100% of the race tires are recycled into new products after use. The cars also feature a push-to-pass system for use on road and street courses like St. Pete.

Series Background

Indy NXT serves as the direct support series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The series was founded in 2002 as the Infiniti Pro Series and functions as the final step on the IndyCar ladder. Past champions from the series have progressed to successful careers in IndyCar.

Street racing in St. Petersburg began in 1985 with SCCA Trans-Am and Can-Am events. Open-wheel racing started on the current street circuit in 2003 with CART. The Indy Racing League, now known as the IndyCar Series, first competed on the track in 2005.

St. Pete marks the fifth consecutive year the series opens its season at the St Petersburg Street Course. This represents the 16th time the series has raced at this Florida venue.

Notable Series Features

The Indy NXT champion receives a scholarship package that includes two IndyCar tests and entry into two IndyCar Series races, including the Indianapolis 500. This prize demonstrates the series' role as a direct path to top-level open-wheel racing.

The St. Pete indylights race often indicates which drivers will contend for the championship. High finishers at the St Petersburg Street Course frequently remain near the top of the standings throughout the season.

The partnership between Indy NXT and FOX Sports has increased viewership for the series. All sessions from St. Pete air on either FS1 or FS2, with the main race broadcast live on FS1. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend also features the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, making its first appearance at the circuit.

The combination of a street circuit layout, a full field of competitive teams, and new technical updates promises compelling racing action at St. Pete. The 45-lap race will test both driver skill and strategy on the challenging St Petersburg Street Course.