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Alex Palou Tackles Indy NXT Test at IMS in Chris Griffis Memorial
Highlights
- Alex Palou to drive Indy NXT car on October 16 at IMS
- Palou aids Ganassi Racing’s development of #11 Indy NXT entry
- Palou adapts from IndyCar to lighter, less powerful Indy NXT car
- Test includes drivers Alessandro de Tullio, Alexander Korieba, Frankie Mossman
- Fans can watch test from public viewing mounds at Indianapolis
- Test prepares teams for 2027 Indy NXT season and strategy
Alex Palou will drive an Indy NXT car at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Friday, October 16, at IMS’s road course, supporting Chip Ganassi Racing’s #11 entry.
The five-time IndyCar champion brings recent IR-28 running at Sebring, offering baseline feedback and setup direction as Ganassi readies for 2027.
He must recalibrate from IndyCar’s greater downforce, carbon brakes, and power to the lighter, lower-grip Indy NXT package, which rewards earlier brake release and momentum conservation.
Despite rookie status in NXT, Palou’s deep IMS knowledge should compress adaptation. He likens the car’s behavior to Formula 3 machinery he drove eight to ten years ago.
Palou drives an Indy NXT car at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on October 16.
Chip Ganassi Racing fields a busy lineup, with Alessandro de Tullio, Alexander Korieba, and Frankie Mossman sharing duties on the road course.
De Tullio arrives as an Indy NXT race winner and seven-time polesitter, following outings with AJ Foyt Racing this season.
Carson Etter continues recovery from September shoulder surgery and is expected to return to the #11 once cleared to drive.
Palou’s data should shape braking references, aero balance targets, and tyre management, creating a bridge between IndyCar habits and the NXT platform.
Ganassi leverages Palou’s cross-series experience to accelerate #11 development.
That cross-pollination echoes recent IR-28 Sebring activity across the paddock, including Alexander Rossi’s IR-28 running.
For spectators, IMS opens public viewing mounds on Friday, offering clear sightlines to installation runs, balance checks, and longer data-gathering stints.
Fans can watch from IMS public viewing mounds on Friday.
Performance headlines matter less than process. Expect methodical runs, quick debriefs, and iterative changes as the team validates tools and strategies for 2027.
The feedback should inform Ganassi’s wider competitive positioning, complementing its development programs alongside primary IndyCar efforts.
Visual Summary
IndyCar
(High Power)
Palou
Indy NXT
(Less Power)
Palou Steps Down: Champion Testing NXT
Five-time IndyCar champ Alex Palou trades horsepower for precision, helping Ganassi shape their 2027 Indy NXT car at IMS.
⬇️
Less Power
Less Power
🔄
New Braking Style
New Braking Style
📊
Data Gathering
Data Gathering
Rookie for a Day: Palou hits the track to bridge the gap between the elite and the up-and-coming—sharing expertise, not chasing glory.
Fan Alert: Watch Palou, de Tullio, Mossman & Korieba at IMS Friday.
Public viewing open 🎟️
Public viewing open 🎟️
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
