2026 Indy NXT Road America

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Race 1 of the 2026 Indy NXT by Firestone doubleheader at Road America is set to start at 11:30 a.m. local time with championship contender Alessandro de Tullio leading the field to green after sweeping qualifying earlier today.

De Tullio topped the overall qualifying charts with a lap of 1:50.9975, earning the top starting spot for the first of two races this weekend. Rookie Nikita Johnson joins him on the front row after leading Group 1, while Matteo Nannini and Lochie Hughes line up directly behind in third and fourth. Josh Pierson rounds out the top five starters as the field takes on the 4.014-mile road course.

With two races and a maximum of 108 points available this weekend, Road America could prove pivotal in the championship fight. The fast, flowing circuit features some of the longest straights on the Indy NXT calendar, creating opportunities for overtaking throughout the field as drivers look to capitalize on the first of two chances to score points this weekend.

Tymek Kucharczyk lost his two best laps from qualifying due to interference with Colin Kaminsky. Max Taylor is also given a six-place grid penalty for failing post-qualifying tech inspection.

De Tullio leads the field to green

Alessandro de Tullio got a strong launch from pole position and held the lead into Turn 1, while Lochie Hughes wasted no time moving forward. The Andretti Global driver swept past both Nikita Johnson and Matteo Nannini on the opening lap to move into second place, putting himself directly behind the championship contender.

Further back, Max Taylor gained a position on Niels Koolen as the field settled into the opening laps. The race quickly turned chaotic behind them when Enzo Fittipaldi suffered front wing damage in an incident involving Max Garcia and JM Correa. Fittipaldi exited the track to pitlane from turn 5, dropping four laps down the order.

The first caution of the race came shortly afterward following a dramatic incident involving Jordan Missig. After following Koolen through the grass at the Kink, Missig made heavy contact with the wall and was launched into the air before coming to rest with significant damage. While Missig’s race ended on the spot, Koolen was able to return to pit lane for repairs.

Incidents continue at Indy NXT Road America Race 1

De Tullio controlled the restart, holding the lead as the field fanned out two and three wide through Turn 1. Behind him, Jack Beeton and Correa both found a way past Johnson, and he dropped to sixth.

Lap 5 and Nicolas Monteiro spun at the exit of Turn 12 and collected Alexander Koreiba in the process, bringing out another caution. Monteiro was able to continue despite front wing damage, but the incident dropped him down to 21st.

De Tullio and Hughes both have a good run coming to the green, with Hughes taking first place after sweeping around de Tullio at turn 1. Just behind him, there’s a big mess with several cars locking up, sending Bryce Aron into the gravel and spinning Colin Kaminsky around. This brings out the third caution.

Under caution, several cars are in the pitlane, Taylor gets a single new tire, Aron gets a new front wing, as well as a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact. Fittipaldi is also in the pitlane with damage to his wishbone, but the team is trying to get him as many laps as possible for experience for race 2 tomorrow.

Hughes leads the field to restart

Hughes gets a good jump for the restart with Pierson getting around Nannini and Garcia getting around the previous race winner Myles Rowe for 8th. Garcia gets pushed off wide by Rowe and drops back to 10th behind Tymek Kucharczyk. Seb Murray takes the runoff at turn five, dropping down to 13th.

With the first full racing lap after the restart complete, the field continued to shuffle throughout the order. Taylor was one of the biggest movers, gaining four positions in just two laps to climb to 14th.

Lap 14 and de Tullio starts making up ground to Hughes in first. Pierson is close behind in third.

Beeton has a good run on Nannini with the fastest lap of the race, but is kept behind in 5th. Hughes opens up the lead to a one-second advantage.

Two laps to go and Beeton gets past Nannini in turn 12 for fourth. They bang wheels as the field gets the white flag.

Pierson gets past de Tullio on the last lap, making it an Andretti 1-2 as Hughes wins his first race of the season. Beeton crosses the line in fourth and Nannini rounds out the top 5.