Matteo Nannini left Road America with his second Indy NXT by Firestone victory after a dramatic post-race penalty changed the final results of Race 2.
The Cape Motorsports driver originally crossed the line second behind Alessandro de Tullio, who had led all 18 laps around the 4.014-mile circuit. However, after post-race disqualifications, Nannini inherited the win for Road America race 2.
It marked Nannini’s first podium of the 2026 season and the second win of his Indy NXT career, with his first coming in 2023 at IMS with Juncos Hollinger Racing. After a frustrating opening half of the year, the result served as a breakthrough moment for Nannini.
“I mean, it’s good to be back. I feel like it’s been a tough start to the season for me, not very lucky. We know the speed since the first race. We’re just about having a clean weekend, good qualifying.
“The race was pretty good. I felt like I could have kept up with Alessandro. I got hit at the start, I’m not sure by who.
“Other than that, I’m glad to bring it home for my team and sponsors. It’s been a tough start to the season, but second place is not too bad.“
Nannini relieved after difficult start to 2026
For Nannini, the Road America result came at an important point in his season. After returning to the series in 2026, the Italian had shown flashes of pace but had struggled to put a complete weekend together.
When asked whether it had taken time to get back up to speed after time away from Indy NXT, Nannini admitted the answer was not straightforward.
“Yes and no. For the past two years, I didn’t do much, not even working out. Started focusing on other things. Obviously the first few races… I feel like the third one, we were already up there speed-wise. We didn’t have a clean weekend and couldn’t put it together from qualifying.
“Obviously when you start at the back, it’s easier to get involved in contact or doing mistakes here and there. I feel like in this series, qualifying is key. If you start up front, 90% of your job is done.“
A stronger weekend after near misses
Although Road America marked Nannini’s second Indy NXT win, it was his first since returning to the series. He felt the performance was not entirely unexpected. The speed had been there at previous rounds, but the results had not followed.
“I hope to come a lot earlier than now. I feel like now we’re at the point in the championship where I don’t really have to look, I have to go race by race. I don’t have much to lose.
“I feel we were close a couple of times, Arlington and Indy. We were taken away a few laps to the end. Yeah, just relieved to be here now.“
European experience helps at Road America
Nannini was also asked about Road America’s similarities to European circuits, with the Wisconsin venue standing as the longest track on the Indy NXT calendar.
Having raced in Europe earlier in his career, Nannini said Road America did remind him of Spa-Francorchamps, even if the comparison was not exact.
“For some reason this track reminds me of Spa, but it has been so long since I raced there, maybe five years ago. And being after like three years, I was here before the track got repaved. Yeah, the track is maybe one of the closest to Indy and some European tracks.
“The car is so different to drive, at least with my car all over the place, fighting, trying to find the grip. Definitely helps experience from Europe, but just different type of racing here.“
