2026 Indy NXT Laguna Seca | Race 1 results

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Round 16 of the Indy NXT season has been completed as Race 1 at Laguna Seca is in the books, view the full results here.

In qualifying earlier in the day, Josh Pierson was fastest for Race 1 to take an important pole as he is potentially stepping up to IndyCar next year, with championship contender Tymek Kucharczyk on pole for Race 2.

Championship leader Nikita Johnson went off from 5th, with Enzo Fittipaldi, second in points, down in P13.

Green flag for Indy NXT Race 1 at Laguna Seca as Kucharczyk hits trouble

Josh Pierson got a perfect jump, with Koolen looking like he was taking 2nd place. However, Rowe and Kucharczyk got brave on the brakes. Unfortunately for the Pole, despite leaving room, got hit by the #99 and dropped to the back of the field. Unsurprisingly, the American was handed a drive-through penalty.

Lochie Hughes also had a first lap to forget as he ended up at the back of the pack.

Meanwhile Jack Betton picked up a puncture as he seemingly had contact with Max Garcia.

Inside the top 10, Juan Manuel Correa cleared Bryce Aron at turn 1, while Max Taylor did the same with Enzo Fittipaldi. The #28 had gained a whopping 10 spots after passing the Brazilian.

On lap 10 the order was Pierson, Johnson, Garcia, Koolen, Correa, Aron, Taylor, Fittipaldi, Allaer and de Tullio. Back down the pack, Kucharczyk charged through to climb back into P14, passing Koreiba, Stati, Harrison, Roe, Etter

Caution comes out on lap 13

As the race was relatively quiet, Carson Etter then brought the yellows out as he had a bizarre spin down the hill out of the Corkscrew. His car would not get going.

Green flag on lap 16

The top 5 stayed in position, while Taylor attacked Aron into turn 5 around the outside. He got on the dirty, with Fittipaldi making a nice move into the Corkscrew, as Allaer also came through. Kucharczyk was on the rampage, moving up to 11th with two passes off camera, while de Tullio had ended up in the gravel.

Caution quickly back out

Behind that, Myles Rowe tried an ambitious move on James Roe at the same corner and smashed into the CGR driver. As Monteiro tried to avoid it, the broken car of the #99 went into the #4 and they were both out.

Green flag again… but not for long

Down at turn 2, de Tullio had an awkward collision with Koreiba as they tangled. The Juncos driver sustained front wing damage and had to box. The Argentinian driver was given a penalty.

The yellows appeared once more as Seb Murray was stopped between turns 3 and 4 with a broken front wing and suspension. Kaminsky returned to the pits with front wing damage.

Another green flag with eight laps to go

On the restart, Max Taylor passed Enzo Fittipaldi yet again for 7th, while Kucharczyk moved into 10th as he cleared Nannini with a beautiful move in the Corkscrew.

Out front, Josh Pierson produced an absolute masterclass to take the win, leading all the way and having dominant pace. Championship leader Nikita Johnson took a huge step towards the title with P2, with Milwaukee winner Max Garcia in 3rd.

Enzo Fittipaldi was only 8th and faces a huge task tomorrow as he is 19 points away. Despite a heroic effort, Tymek Kucharczyk was all but out of the fight after finishing 10th.